14:20 Ascot

Saturday 17 January 2026

All12:2513:0013:4014:2014:5315:3016:05

bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 5m 22.88s

Hitman^p,t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155

18/1

Ended a long losing run when landing the Old Roan at Aintree (2½m, good) under Freddie Gingell in October, finding more for pressure than is sometimes the case. Ground was slower than ideal in Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon next time but he looks vulnerable in any case, given his poor strike rate.

Form: 22P7-13

Jungle Boogie¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 152| CD

7/1

Fragile but highly talented performer who was sixth in 2024 Gold Cup on just his fourth start over fences. Produced a typically bold front-running display when scoring over C&D on his reappearance last term but failed to return with a bang this time round on recent debut for new yard at Cheltenham.

Form: 416/1P-7

Etalon^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| C

8/1

Hit-and-miss last term and failed to build good reappearance effort when well held at Newbury in November. Combination of first-time cheekpieces and a more aggressive ride sparked a return to form when beating Scarface and 7 others (including Bad) over 19f here last time but this is a tougher race.

Form: 41-5291

Bad²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 144| BF| D

7/1

Back-to-back winner of Kempton handicap chases last term and made it 3-3 at that track when scoring over 2¼m on return in October. Wasn't far behind Vincenzo when fifth in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham next time before underperforming in the race won by Etalon here last month. Major player.

Form: 1P5-154

Fugitif^p,t³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 140| DWS

28/1

Very capable on his day, most notably emerging on top in a major Cheltenham handicap in December 2023, a course where he has also posted a number of fine efforts in defeat. However, he's now at the veteran stage and has not been anywhere near his best so far this season. Has had another wind op.

Form: 3608-55

Vincenzo^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 140

6/4

Likeable sort who was successful on 2 of his first 3 starts over fences at around 2m last winter and took his form up a notch when second in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury in March. Has resumed this season with big efforts in back-to-back valuable Cheltenham handicaps and he's the one to beat.

Form: 1212-22

Scarface^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 136| C| D

17/2

Ended last term with a win at Newton Abbot in April and has found just one too good on 2 of his 3 starts this season, including when chasing Etalon home here last month. 4 lb better off with that rival now but he's 6 lb higher compared to when finishing fourth in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 021-2P2

Heltenham^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

7/1

Back to best when winning in good style at Perth last spring but majority of his subsequent efforts have been underwhelming, including last time at Aintree where he looked cooked when falling 2 out. Harry Skelton prefers Etalon.

Form: P8332F

Neon Moon^b,t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: H Cobden| T: D Pipe| OR: 132| CD

12/1

Stepped up on encouraging reappearance fifth of 12 over 3m here in November when landing a 4-runner C&D handicap (good) 20 days later. However, he reverted to type when finding little under pressure at Ludlow next time, a trait that he has exhibited several times before.

Form: 24-4514

Forecasts

Vincenzo (6/4), Bad (7/1), Jungle Boogie (7/1), Heltenham (7/1), Etalon (8/1), Scarface (17/2), Neon Moon (12/1), Hitman (18/1), Fugitif (28/1)

Having found just one too good in major handicaps on his last three starts, VINCENZO is taken to deservedly get his head in front. A 1 lb rise for his latest fine effort in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham is negligible and everything looks in place for the 8-y-o to deliver. Bad wasn't at his best behind Etalon and Scarface over C&D last time but will likely emerge as the main danger to Vincenzo if on-song this time, while Scarface may also reverse placings with Etalon on these revised terms.