15:35 Ascot

Saturday 21 December 2024

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 44.10s

Steel Ally²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 143

9/1

Progressive front-runner who resumed with a very good second in the Welsh Champion at Ffos Las before going one better at Haydock (19f, soft) 6 weeks later. A further 6 lb rise demands more but no shock were he to find it.

Form: P123-21

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Favour And Fortune²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 141| D

11/1

Enjoyed a good first campaign over hurdles, culminating with a win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Ayr (2m, good to soft) in April. That form is strong and a 3lb rise is unlikely to prevent another prominent showing if he's fully primed after 8 months off.

Form: 112261-

Be Aware³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

7/2

Made winning debut in a 2m Newbury maiden in January and good second on all 4 outings since, notably when going down by ½ length to Burdett Road in 15-runner Greatwood on Cheltenham return. Had reopposing Dysart Enos 3 lengths back in third on that occasion. Has his name on a big handicap soon.

Form: 1222-2

Our Champ^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 137| CD

14/1

Returned to his best with a run behind when winning C&D handicap last month, with the reopposing Secret Squirrel behind him. Another fine effort when third of 13 in Gerry Feilden at Newbury (2m, good to soft) 3 weeks ago but probably vulnerable to less-exposed sorts here.

Form: 713-613

Tritonic¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 135| CD

50/1

Useful under both codes, including a 2021 win in this race. Ran well in 2m Flat handicaps at Glorious Goodwood and York in August but couldn't continue the good work back hurdling at Chepstow in October. Also well held on AW Flat 10 days ago and surprise were he to win this for a second time.

Form: 854/15-0

Dysart Enos³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| BF| D

10/3

Lost her unbeaten record but still shaped well when third of 15 to Burdett Road (Be Aware second) in the Greatwood at Cheltenham on reappearance, some early keenness seeming to tell on her in the closing stages. More to come if she can settle better with a run behind her. Key player.

Form: 11/111-3

Go Dante^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 132| D

16/1

Winner of the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. Made a sound reappearance when 5¾ lengths fifth of 10 to Lump Sum in Welsh Champion Hurdle but failed to build on that when only ninth in the Greatwood at Cheltenham since.

Form: 1315-59

Kabral Du Mathan^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| D

17/2

Stretched his unbeaten record to 3 when readily landing short-priced favouritism on his 2m Kempton handicap debut/reappearance last month. An 8 lb rise doesn't look enough to stop him with further progress likely.

Form: 11-1

Fiercely Proud³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 128| D

12/1

Dual bumper scorer who was a useful novice hurdler last season. Set for third when falling 2 out on his C&D reappearance and shaped well when sixth of 15 in Greatwood at Cheltenham since, keeping on having still had plenty to do 2 out.

Form: 1327-F6

Impero^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: C Collins| OR: 127| D

22/1

Untrustworthy maiden on Flat but going right way over hurdles in cheekpieces at present for this yard, winning a Downpatrick maiden and 2m Cheltenham handicap in October before completing a hat-trick in 2½m Musselburgh novice last month. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 70/2111

Secret Squirrel⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: H Morrison| OR: 126| BF| D

4/1

Landed a pair of 2m novice hurdle wins last season and returned with a solid third of 10 to Our Champ in C&D handicap 7 weeks ago. Could have a bigger performance in him for a stable no stranger to success in this.

Form: 12215-3

Black Hawk Eagle³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Liam Harrison| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 122| D

33/1

Fairly useful Flat/hurdles winner for Noel Meade who made a good start to life in Britain, winning 2m handicaps at Wincanton and Hereford last winter. Good placed efforts from this mark on both starts this season.

Form: 911P-32

Non-Runners

Kihavah²¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: A Keatley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dysart Enos (10/3), Be Aware (7/2), Secret Squirrel (4/1), Kabral Du Mathan (17/2), Steel Ally (9/1), Favour And Fortune (11/1), Fiercely Proud (12/1), Our Champ (14/1), Go Dante (16/1), Impero (22/1), Kihavah (25/1), Black Hawk Eagle (33/1), Tritonic (50/1)

A really strong renewal, featuring a few progressive sorts. While this is a different test to the one KABRAL DU MATHAN faced in a small field on his Kempton handicap debut he won with plenty in hand and could easily still be well ahead of his mark. Dysart Enos is taken to turn around Greatwood form with Be Aware and give the selection most to so. Reappearing Scottish Champion winner Favour And Fortune completes the shortlist.