14:05 Ascot

Friday 22 November 2024

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

CopyBet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 5m 15.56s

Corrigeen Rock²⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 144

11/1

Thoroughly likeable sort who is building a fine strike-rate over fences taking his record in this sphere to 5-11 when landing a big pot at Musselburgh (20.3f, good to soft) when last seen in February. Clearly goes well fresh (won on return last season) so demands considerable respect.

Form: 61/1421-

Terresita¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: L Wadham| OR: 135| D

17/2

Improved switched to fences last season, likely to have recorded a third success had she not fallen 2 out at Sandown final start. Made amends when taking the scalp of Galia Des Liteaux in listed company at Carlisle (20f, good to soft) on return and is capable of better still.

Form: 6131F-1

Persian Time³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| BF| C

13/2

Won 2 of his first 4 starts over fences last season, doubling his tally when rallying at Kempton in March. However, well below that level on his final 2 starts of the campaign and showed little spark on reappearance back at Kempton (18f, good to soft) last month.

Form: 1P14P-5

Mylesfromwicklow^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

5/1

Has taken his form up a notch this season, putting up just about a career best when second of 6 at Market Rasen (21.4f) last month. Unsuited by a change of tactics when sixth of 10 at this course (23.8f, good) just under 3 weeks ago and it's likely he's still in good nick.

Form: 51-2326

Nocte Volatus^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 129| D

7/1

Took advantage of a drop in the weights to score for the first time in over 2 years at Uttoxeter in May and picked up where he left off when last seen 6 months earlier to score at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) last month. 5 lb higher but should make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 3346-11

Gemirande²¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 128

10/3

Gained his second win of 2022/23 at Wetherby (19.4f). Better for return when fifth of 16 in Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival in March but proved to be a disappointment in Grade 2 Silver Trophy there the following month. Handicapper drops him 3 lb ahead of this return so folly to ignore.

Form: 123/550-

Sageburg County^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: W Greatrex| OR: 121| D

11/4

Three-time winner over fences last season, including at Chepstow in April. Ran poorly at Uttoxeter following month but saw things out better than is often the case when 5½ lengths third of 14 to Nocte Volatus on return at Chepstow last month. That will have blown away any cobwebs, too.

Form: 8231-53

Non-Runners

Grandads Cottage²²⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: O Murphy J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Sageburg County (11/4), Gemirande (10/3), Mylesfromwicklow (5/1), Persian Time (13/2), Nocte Volatus (7/1), Grandads Cottage (8/1), Terresita (17/2), Corrigeen Rock (11/1)

Cases can be made for several of these but it could pay to side with GEMIRANDE, who ended last season with a bit of a whimper but has slipped back to a potentially good mark as a result and his yard has twice won this in recent years with horses returning from a break. Corrigeen Rock took his form up a notch when landing a big pot at Musselburgh back in February, so he heads up the dangers on reappearance, with Terresita and Nocte Volatus both fancied to go well, too.