13:20 Ascot

Friday 20 December 2024

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Howden Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 5m 19.25s

Belliano⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

4/5

Black Sam Bellamy gelding who was purchased for £255,000 after easily winning his sole outing in Irish points. Made an encouraging start to his career under Rules behind subsequent winner The New Lion at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) in October and every chance he can go one better.

Form: 1-2

Block Rockin Beats³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy

13/2

Off the mark at third attempt in points and bright start in this sphere when landing a Cheltenham bumper in October, rallying to lead close home. Built on that promise when runner-up in a listed event back there last month and rates as an interesting hurdling debutant.

Form: P61-12

Broxy Music⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J HendersonWS

100/1

Blue Bresil gelding who was worryingly easy to back and the unease was proved right in the race when finishing tailed-off last of 10 in a Sandown bumper (16f, good) just under 6 weeks ago. Quickly switched over hurdles and would be folly to discount given connections (has had a wind op).

Form: 0

Canal Court^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon

150/1

Runner-up on the third of 3 starts in Irish points. Beaten 16 lengths when switched to hurdles for new yard at Kempton in October but reported to have made a noise when tailed-off last at Plumpton (20.5f, good) next time. Watching brief advised.

Form: P5-224

Country Park³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121

12/1

£150,000 purchase from points who has showed definite promise under Rules, producing best effort yet when second of 4 in a Cheltenham maiden (16.4f) last month. Increase in trip promises to suit so he's open to further improvement.

Form: 89-B232

Followcato⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

7/1

£72,000 purchase after finishing runner-up in an Irish point in February. Promise when third of 13 in a Huntingdon bumper for new connections in April and similar comments applied when fourth of 9 in novice at Aintree (20f, good) on hurdling debut just under 6 weeks ago. Capable of better.

Form: 23-4

Golan Loop¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

22/1

Off mark in Irish points at second attempt (May 18) and shaped like a stayer when third of 8 in novice hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) earlier this month, rallying gradually after outpaced before straight (also lost a shoe). May well build on that here.

Form: 413

Jasmin Bellevue⁶²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Max Kendrick| T: N J Henderson

20/1

€55,000 3-y-o, £110,000 4-y-o, Jeu St Eloi gelding. Half-brother to French hurdler Funky Town and French 2¼m chase winner Diskover. Runner-up completed start in Irish points (Apr 2023). Seemingly yard's second string on jockey bookings.

Form: F2/

Not So Woolly³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J Tizzard| OR: 115

7/1

Fifth in an Exeter bumper in the spring and has made a sound to his hurdle career, leaving the impression a steadily-run race didn't get to the bottom of him when third of 6 in novice at Lingfield (19.5f, good) last month. Increase in trip will suit so needs keeping an eye on.

Form: 5-33

Tommy The Tank⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole

18/1

Comfortable winner of sole start in points (Apr 2023) and showed plenty on his Rules debut when second of 11 in novice at Fontwell (19.1f, soft) on hurdling debut a couple of months ago, compromising his chance by jumping right in the latter stages. Yard in form and should progress.

Form: 1/2

My Louise³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards

66/1

Successful on the first 2 of 3 starts in bumpers, was held back by inexperience sent hurdling after 7 months off at Chepstow in October. Again fell well short of her bumper form at Kempton last month and looks one for further down the line.

Form: 118-54

Non-Runners

The Gray Ghost⁴⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: R L Llewellyn J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

Belliano (4/5), Block Rockin Beats (13/2), Not So Woolly (7/1), Followcato (7/1), Country Park (12/1), Tommy The Tank (18/1), Jasmin Bellevue (20/1), Golan Loop (22/1), The Gray Ghost (33/1), My Louise (66/1), Broxy Music (100/1), Canal Court (150/1)

Having bumped into a high-calibre novice in The New Lion on his Rules debut, BELLIANO is strongly fancied to go one better with improvement on the cards at the expense of Country Park, who has shown plenty in a handful of starts over timber and promises to be suited by this increase in trip. Block Rockin Beats ran a couple of cracking races in Cheltenham bumpers in recent weeks, so he completes the shortlist along with Followcato.