13:30 Ascot

Friday 22 November 2019

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Zeelo 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 49.23s

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Selected odds by:

Copper Coin²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore

5/1

Twice placed in bumpers and after falling on hurdles bow he showed his true colours latest when fourth in an Aintree maiden at 16/1. Similar level of combat today so has each-way potential.

Form: 422/F-4

Enry Iggins¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: R Walford

100/1

Bangor maiden 8L point-to-point winner in March on just his second start in that sphere (6-4 favourite) but looked one for the long term when a remote 11th of 13 on Rules bow at Chepstow.

Form: 21-0

Firenzo¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

150/1

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Darkhan and showed some ability when trained in France but was tailed off at Hereford on debut earlier this month; needs to improve on that.

Form: 059

Flash De Clerval¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 112

20/1

Showed a decent level of form for Liz Doyle over hurdles in Ireland earning a rating of 112 coming into this. Hard to imagine he will be battling for more than a place on stable debut.

Form: F43-6

Fred²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

6/4

French import was second in his last three races there in a bumper and two hurdles, the latest two starts at Auteuil. Started off by finishing third in a Cheltenham maiden for top team. Leading contender now.

Form: 9222-3

Henri Le Bon³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

100/1

Well held in a Ffos Las bumper and Exeter maiden hurdle so probably more a long term prospect.

Form: 5-7

Igor¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124| BF

5/1

Something possibly amiss when disappointing here in December but nothing wrong with his second at Exeter or indeed here on debut in similar events. First run of the season but should be ready and has leading claims.

Form: 27-2

Mount Batur⁷³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

28/1

Well beaten fourth on debut at Uttoxeter in lone start back in November 2017. That was a promising enough effort but comes with a fair degree of risk now after the layoff.

Form: 4/

Papa Tango Charly³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill

12/1

Cost an eye-watering £440,000 after winning lone point-to-point. Midfield effort in a Worcester bumper can now be comfortably left behind with extra ½m and hurdles big positives; still an exciting prospect.

Form: 1-7

Sheshoon Sonny²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| BF

5/1

Wetherby bumper winner slightly disappointing in third on hurdles bow at Stratford (5/4 Fav) but looked sure to benefit from today's longer trip. This race is stronger however.

Form: 421-3

Sometimes Always²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

33/1

Stoutly bred son of crack sire Presenting looked a useful prospect when fifth of 16 here in a bumper at the start of the month. Could show up prominently if jumping soundly.

Form: 5

St Barts²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Cothelstone point-to-point winner was fourth subsequently in a winners race before joining this top yard. No surprise to see a positive showing and market support would only add to confidence.

Form: 14-

The Domino Effect³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle

40/1

Well held in a Southwell bumper and Hereford maiden hurdle so far so best watched in this the strongest race he's contested to date.

Form: 4-6

Hoot At Midnight^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

100/1

Beaten out of sight on hurdles bow and showed little in three prior bumpers so looks best avoided at present.

Form: 40-90

Forecasts

Fred (6/4), Igor (5/1), Sheshoon Sonny (5/1), Copper Coin (5/1), Papa Tango Charly (12/1), St Barts (20/1), Flash De Clerval (20/1), Mount Batur (28/1), Sometimes Always (33/1), The Domino Effect (40/1), Henri Le Bon (100/1), Enry Iggins (100/1), Hoot At Midnight (100/1), Firenzo (150/1)

A chance is taken here on Jonjo O'Neill's PAPA TANGO CHARLY despite a slightly underwhelming Rules debut in a Worcester bumper. Point recruits costing £440,000 are expected to be Gold Cup horses and while that is highly fanciful at this stage, surely this impressive Liscarroll scorer can make a big step forward now over hurdles and upped in trip. Nicky Henderson duo Igor and Fred look the biggest dangers with marginal preference for the former whose course experience has to be a plus.