14:30 Ascot

Friday 20 December 2024

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

Racetech Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 44.04s

An Bradan Feasa^t1,p1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: Jack Jones| OR: 120

10/1

Fairly useful 2-time juvenile hurdle winner last season. Creditable efforts in defeat both runs this season, finishing fourth of 9 in 2m Huntingdon handicap latterly. Sports a first-time tongue tie and cheekpieces combination.

Form: 1488-64

Moveit Like Minnie^v1,t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| D

11/1

Matched his fairly useful hurdle form when making a winning start to his chase career at Stratford in September but has gone badly the wrong way in that sphere since, running out the last twice. Feasibly treated assuming those wayward tendencies aren't repeated with a visor fitted back hurdling.

Form: 9P-1URR

We're Red And Blue³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| D

9/1

Debut bumper winner and going the right way over hurdles, making all in 17f Carlisle maiden last month. It's hard to argue his opening mark is generous but he has the potential for better again.

Form: 14-U21

The Winslow Boy²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 118| D

15/2

Made it fourth time lucky over hurdles in 2m Chepstow novice 4 weeks ago. Will need to step up a good deal on that form to defy a tough-looking opening mark but Calum Pritchard's 7 lb claim certainly helps.

Form: 5/49-31

Junkanoo^v⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116| D

33/1

Winning novice hurdler last season but ran with credit when third of 5 in a 19f Fontwell handicap in October. Can have his subsequent remote fifth at Newbury ignored as he was in contention until all but coming down 3 out.

Form: 1P8-535

Golden Move^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115

17/2

Fairly useful on Flat for Richard Fahey. Little better than modest form when third in pair of maiden hurdles in the spring but much more like it following 8 months off/wind surgery when making winning handicap debut at Wincanton in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 15 days ago. Can defy handicapper.

Form: 33-1

Toonagh Warrior^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 115| D

14/1

Won a 2m Wetherby novice last winter and mostly creditable efforts in defeat in handicaps since, particularly when runner-up up twice at Southwell (20.5f/3m) in recent weeks. Last season's exploits show he's effective over much shorter. Respected.

Form: 424-622

Midnight Ginger⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 114| D

40/1

Chase winner last season. Normally reliable over hurdles and made a respectable return from 4 months off when 9 lengths sixth of 7 in Exeter handicap hurdle 6 weeks ago. Entitled to be sharper with that run behind her.

Form: 1343-36

Typhoon Flyer³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 114

9/1

Proved suited by the drop to around 2m when making all in maiden at Market Rasen last month. An opening mark of 114 demands plenty of improvement but no shock were he to find it.

Form: 322-331

Soldierofthestorm²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Benjamin Macey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 113| BF| D

16/1

Improved to win a 19.5f Hereford handicap in February and even better form when third of 11 there in May. Returns with his stable among the winners but Jonjo O'Neill Jr is on the yard's other runner.

Form: 76413-3

Non Stop²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Tizzard| OR: 113| D

22/1

Drew a blank over fences last season but took his hurdle strike-rate to a healthy 3-6 when taking a 2m Plumpton handicap on reappearance in November. Creditable third at Kempton off this mark since. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 5234-13

Byron Hill^t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: P Neville| OR: 112| D

16/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Carlisle (soft) in October. Respectable 8 lengths third back there since, possibly not helped by plotting a wider route than the others.

Form: 282213

King William Rufus²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 112| D

7/1

Opened hurdles account at the sixth attempt when making all in a Plumpton maiden (2m, good to soft) in March. Runner-up all 4 subsequent starts, the latest in a Class 3 handicap at Kempton. Likely to be on the premises again.

Form: 612-222

Fasol^t,p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110

7/2

A very useful winning stayer on Flat in France. Yet to match that form over hurdles but went close in 2m Sandown handicap a fortnight ago and that Flat ability provides the hope for better again. Big player.

Form: 4-242

Wise Guy³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 107| BF| D

20/1

Improver in handicaps last season, winning slow-ground handicaps at Lingfield and Carlisle. Shaped far better than the bare result on his seasonal reappearance but only a respectable fourth at Leicester since.

Form: 1213-84

Casi Crudo³⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: A M Hales| OR: 107

33/1

Juvenile hurdle winner in December 2022. Consistent in defeat subsequently but hasn't been seen since finishing a good second in 2m Huntingdon handicap 13 months ago. The betting should help guide to expectations after such a long time off.

Form: 2453/22-

Baddesley⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 104

125/1

Temperamental sort but did win over hurdles and fences at Plumpton last season. Not on a going day on his Fontwell reappearance in October. Not easy to predict.

Form: 13691-6

Diamond Egg⁴²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 104| D

66/1

Won a 2m maiden hurdle at Wincanton in April 2023 but well held in a Plumpton handicap in October of that year and not seen since. First run for yard after leaving Chris Gordon. A watching brief is the percentage call.

Form: 1U431/6-

Forecasts

Fasol (7/2), King William Rufus (7/1), The Winslow Boy (15/2), Golden Move (17/2), Typhoon Flyer (9/1), We're Red And Blue (9/1), An Bradan Feasa (10/1), Moveit Like Minnie (11/1), Toonagh Warrior (14/1), Soldierofthestorm (16/1), Byron Hill (16/1), Wise Guy (20/1), Non Stop (22/1), Junkanoo (33/1), Casi Crudo (33/1), Midnight Ginger (40/1), Diamond Egg (66/1), Baddesley (125/1)

Paul Nicholls looks to hold a strong hand, with recent Wincanton handicap debut scorer GOLDEN MOVE preferred to Fasol, even though Harry Cobden partners the latter. King WiIliam Rufus, Byron Hill and Toonagh Warrior arrive in form and are just a few of many others who could go well in this competitive race.