15:35 Ascot

Saturday 20 December 2025

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

Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 42.46s

Alexei^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 147| CD

85/40

Confirmed promise of reappearance when justifying strong support in C&D handicap (form worked out well) and progressed again when typically travelling smoothly to see off Helnwein by 6 lengths in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (soft). Most progressive and can run another big race in bid for hat-trick.

Form: 148-211

Live Conti²⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

18/1

Form of the 17-runner juvenile hurdle at Auteuil he won on debut last October is solid and he duly landed the odds on debut for this yard at Wetherby in February. Much improved when fine second in an Aintree Grade 1 when last seen during the spring and there could be more to come on handicap bow.

Form: 112-

Sticktotheplan²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 142| BF| D

18/1

Highly progressive for Cormac Farrell and found further improvement to land Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow on stable debut. That form has taken a few knocks however, and he wasn't seen to best effect in a Grade 2 novice at Haydock last time. Could get back on track now handicapping.

Form: 212113

Joyeuse¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| BF| D

16/1

Ex-French bumper winner who developed into a useful hurdler last season, the highlight when winning the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury. Hasn't fully delivered in 2 starts over fences and remains to be seen if she's back to her best reverted to hurdles.

Form: 2169-22

Wilful⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| D

15/2

Often seen to best effect with the emphasis on speed, as was case when winning at Ayr/finishing second at Punchestown last season. Picked up where he left off when third (behind Alexei) on reappearance at Chepstow and he's one to be interested in with a run under his belt.

Form: 84P12-3

Fiercely Proud^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 135| CD

8/1

Suited by strong pace when successful in this race off 7 lb lower last year but clearly not the same horse when pulled up both subsequent starts. More encouragement when fifth behind Alexei on return in the Greatwood and has claims if he can build on that with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: F61PP-5

Faivoir³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| C| D

28/1

Useful hurdler won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival in 2023 and ran right up to best when caught on line in the Imperial Cup at Sandown the following year. Shaped as if retaining ability when third under this rider in the Greatwood last time and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 8526/83

Helnwein³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 133| D

12/1

Strong-travelling sort held his form well without winning last season, finishing runner-up in the Swinton at Haydock and returned better than ever when chasing home Alexei in the Greatwood on reappearance. Well-suited to big-field 2m handicaps and should go well again.

Form: 4372-22

Welsh Charger³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 129| D

20/1

Had a productive 2024/25 season, winning the Scottish County at Musselburgh (2m) and running at least as well when fifth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. Stopped quickly in the Swinton next time but fared a lot better when fourth in the Greatwood on return. Can be competitive off 1 lb lower.

Form: 1715-04

Wreckless Eric²⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129| D

12/1

Progressive when winning a very competitive novice handicap at Cheltenham last November and ran a cracker when narrowly denied by Go Dante in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. Wasn't seen to best effect over 2½m on final start last season and makes appeal back in a big-field 2m handicap.

Form: F12620-

Hardy Du Seuil^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 128| D

33/1

Fairly useful fifth in a strong 2m Windsor handicap (soft) last season and was back that form when winning over the same C&D with cheekpieces refitted on reappearance, holding on gamely. Has more on his plate back up in class off 5 lb higher.

Form: 2503-31

Mondo Man²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123

7/2

Smart on Flat in France (purchased for €520,000 last October) and showed plenty of promise as a juvenile. Finished career best fourth in a Group 3 on Flat in May and shaped well behind by a promising sort in a Lingfield novice hurdle last time. Likely to improve for this test on handicap debut.

Form: 239-2

Hot Fuss^v²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: David Bass| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 123| D

33/1

Useful on Flat and made all in a Sandown juvenile last December prior to finishing a cracking fourth of 22 in the Fred Winter. Well held on Flat since and down-the-field in the Gerry Feilden (possibly still working his way to full fitness) last time. Bit to prove in change of headgear.

Form: 2144-6

Forecasts

Alexei (85/40), Mondo Man (7/2), Wilful (15/2), Fiercely Proud (8/1), Helnwein (12/1), Wreckless Eric (12/1), Joyeuse (16/1), Live Conti (18/1), Sticktotheplan (18/1), Welsh Charger (20/1), Faivoir (28/1), Hot Fuss (33/1), Hardy Du Seuil (33/1)

Ultra-competitive but this can go the way of smart Flat performer MONDO MAN who has shown plenty of promise over hurdles to date and looks a likely improver for the switch to handicaps. Alexei has proved most progressive this season and should make a bold bid for the hat-trick, while Faivoir has previous in top-end 2m handicaps and shaped as if retaining plenty of ability when third behind Alexei in the Greatwood last time.