16:05 Ascot

Saturday 3 November 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Maria O'Grady Memorial Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 3m 47.2s

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Selected odds by:

Emitom¹⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| D

3/1

Won impressively on debut at Warwick last April where he showed signs of greenness but enough ability to overcome it. Carries a 4lb penalty for that win which is hard to gauge with none of first five running since but potentially a smart prospect.

Form: 1-

Mere Ironmonger⁹³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell| BF| D

5/1

Must have had problems as he hasn't been seen since early 2016 having been a taking winner of a bumper at Kempton on debut. Failed to follow that up when made favourite for a decent Ayr bumper and questions aplenty now.

Form: 16/

Ben Buie

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley

8/1

Newcomer by super-sire Presenting cost £40,000 as a half-brother to a point-to-point winner out of an attractively jumps bred mare. Champion jockey booking significant and could easily prove competitive on debut.

Form:

Bitofblinding¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| BF

25/1

Well supported co-favourite on debut at Fontwell in May so was a little disappointing he could never get involved finishing sixth of eight. Too early to judge him just on that but this is tougher so others appeal more.

Form: 6

Fubar³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

5/2

Caught the eye on debut at Market Rasen where he stumbled and fell back through the field before keeping on really well for second. Winner not franked the form since albeit in a warm contest but still looks a leading contender here.

Form: 2

Lantiern^h1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington

16/1

Bought for £35,000 last December as a son of Salutino and half-brother to two winners out of a dual bumper winner. Yard capable of winning bumpers but hood on debut not a positive sign.

Form:

Manning Estate¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| BF

7/1

Well bred gelding made a promising start to his career at Fontwell in May when inexperience cost him as he ran green under pressure to finish second. Winner won twice since and yard won this last year with a horse with a second in lone previous run.

Form: 2

Zyon¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

9/1

Expensive son of top jumps sire Martaline (sire of Disko, Dynaste, Terrefort) was disappointing on debut at Wincanton when 10th of 12. Represents top yard so should improve but likely future in staying chases.

Form: 0-

Ask Jilly

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Bosley

50/1

Daughter of Passing Glance out of an Overbury mare who was placed over hurdles. Likely to need the experience on her racecourse debut given yard's very ordinary strike rate overall.

Form:

Miss Antipova^h⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

50/1

Not unfancied on debut at Fontwell but proved unruly and almost ran out on the first turn. Made some headway belatedly but could never make up for the error. Yard second string and risky proposition.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Fubar (5/2), Emitom (3/1), Mere Ironmonger (5/1), Manning Estate (7/1), Ben Buie (8/1), Zyon (9/1), Lantiern (16/1), Bitofblinding (25/1), Miss Antipova (50/1), Ask Jilly (50/1)

Oliver Sherwood won this last year with a horse with a remarkably similar profile to MANNING ESTATE so a chance is taken on this four-year-old who ran really well first time up despite running green. Fubar who was also second on his debut may prove the biggest danger given the eye-catching manner of that performance. Emitom could do little more than he did on debut at Warwick and despite a penalty he looks a leading contender.