Howden Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 48.01s

Blueking D'oroux²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

3/1

Smart hurdler who signed off for last term with a solid fourth to Impaire Et Passe in Select Hurdle at Sandown (21.5f) in April. Also took this contest a year ago so he's a leading player again.

Form: 12/1154-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Colonel Mustard²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Fowler| OR: 147

10/1

Smart hurdler who resumed with a good second of 3 in conditions hurdle at Sligo (17.8f) 29 days ago, finishing well after an error 2 out. It's now 15 runs since his last win in 2021 but this Irish raider holds solid form claims.

Form: 25253-2

Lucky Place²⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| D

4/1

Improving type who opened his account in Doncaster novice in December. Signed off with an excellent fourth of 21 in Coral Cup Handicap at Cheltenham in March. Open to more improvement on his return.

Form: 221224-

Thunder Rock²²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 149| CD

7/2

Very smart chaser who scored twice last season but was pulled up in the Bowl at Aintree final run in April. Has a good record fresh which bodes well for him now returning over the smaller obstacles and certainly not out of things.

Form: 2/1P21P-

Golden Ace²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 144| D

2/1

Very useful hurdler who remains unbeaten in this sphere and went 4-4 in listed event at Cheltenham (20.2f) in April. This demands more but she's well in the mix with more to offer.

Form: 52/1111-

Non-Runners

Salver²⁵³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

Golden Ace (2/1), Blueking D'oroux (3/1), Thunder Rock (7/2), Lucky Place (4/1), Salver (13/2), Colonel Mustard (10/1)

None of these can be ruled out but BLUEKING D'OROUX holds just the edge on form so is fancied to repeat his success in this event 12 months ago. Jeremy Scott's mare Golden Ace remains unbeaten in this sphere and rates a big threat though, while Irish challenger Colonel Mustard and Nicky Henderson's progressive Lucky Place are firmly in the picture too in this cracking Grade 2 contest.