14:25 Ascot

Saturday 17 February 2018

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Keltbray Swinley Chase (Limited Handicap) (Listed)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 14.3s

Tenor Nivernais²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 152| CD

9/1

Good record at the track and won this race easily last year (same mark today) but showed little on reappearance at Doncaster last month and yard having a torrid time of it this winter. Can only be watched at present.

Form: 43120-P

Regal Encore⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 150| CD

6/1

Form figures are a bit of a horror story, but it masks the fact he's got plenty of ability when he puts it together and his good third in the Ladbrokes Trophy in November is testament to that. Conditions probably fine if he fancies it. Risky.

Form: 1P8-03P

Vieux Lion Rouge^b⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 150| D

13/2

Out-and-out stayer that will be using this as a warm up for the Grand National. Trip very much on the short side for him these days and unless they go too fast up front, likely to find it all happening a bit too quickly for him here.

Form: 7/116-47

Minella Daddy^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 137| CD

4/1

Got very tired here in January, seemingly finding the soft ground against him, and that could well be the case again here. Yard have gone a bit quiet as well and although there's probably more to come from him over fences, others preferred today.

Form: 2112P-4

Holly Bush Henry^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 135| D

11/4

Has been rejuvenated this season, mixing hurdles with fences and performing well over both of them. Arguably still on a fair mark despite those successes, no issue with how bad the ground gets, and should run his race once more.

Form: 641412

Another Venture^p1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 134| D

11/4

Has really found his feet over fences now, improving to take contests at Chepstow and Hereford. This is obviously harder, but handles soft/heavy well and on an upward curve, which can't be said for many here. Chances of the hat-trick.

Form: 0-52611

Non-Runners

Gold Present⁵⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Gold Present (15/8), Another Venture (11/4), Holly Bush Henry (11/4), Minella Daddy (4/1), Regal Encore (6/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (13/2), Tenor Nivernais (9/1)

There looks to be no hiding place here, with possible pace angles in Minella Daddy and the fast-improving Another Venture in attendance, and pressure on clean jumping will be at a premium. GOLD PRESENT keeps defying the handicapper and should get this run to suit, as he likes to travel in behind the leaders before coming late on the scene. He can complete the hat-trick, with his latest piece of form looking very strong indeed. Holly Bush Henry has had a great season and still looks on a mark that's competitive. He can take a prize home, with the aforementioned Another Venture best of the rest.

Gold Present
Holly Bush Henry
Another Venture

Previous Winners

2017

Tenor Nivernais

Weight: 11-7 |Age: 10

J: L Treadwell | T: Miss V Williams

6/1

Prize Money

1st: £42,712.002nd: £16,028.003rd: £8,025.004th: £3,998.005th: £2,010.006th: £1,005.00