15:10 Ascot

Friday 24 November 2023

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

All Seasons Scaffolding Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 10.99s

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Selected odds by:

Switch Hitter²⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

12/1

Limited to just 2 starts last term, disappointing in a Cheltenham Grade 3 handicap on return but back on track when accounting for 4 rivals at Wincanton (25.1f, good) in February. 4 lb rise negated by Freddie Gingell's claim and while this demands improvement, he remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 1322/71-

Tea Clipper^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 136| BF| D

10/3

Winless since scoring at Chepstow back in October 2021 but has subsequently acquitted himself well in a number of strong handicaps. Positive start to this season when runner-up back at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) and, down another 2 lb, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 3468-92

Manothepeople^p1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| D

5/1

Dual chase winner last term who returned with a very good second of 11 in 3m Exeter handicap (soft) last month. Up 4 lb for that but entirely possible that he has more to offer in this sphere and the addition of cheekpieces could be a good move (hung left under pressure at Exeter).

Form: 1/112P-2

Unanswered Prayers^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 130

11/1

Made a winning chase debut at Cheltenham last November and, though largely disappointing thereafter, he was in the process of taking a step firmly back in the right direction when falling in a top handicap over this C&D earlier this month (disputing second place when coming down at the final fence).

Form: 152P-5F

Emir Sacree^p1⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| C

13/2

Pulled up on 3 of his last 5 starts but has performed with credit when completing, including when third in a 7-runner contest at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) on return last month, finishing a neck adrift of the re-opposing Tea Clipper. Cheekpieces given another go and he could have a big part to play.

Form: 1/P3P-P3

Hidden Heroics¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| D

6/1

Winner of first 2 starts over fences last season, making all in small-field novice handicaps at Exeter and Cheltenham. Pretty disappointing since, though, and probably worth taking on, for all that he's now 2 lb below last winning mark.

Form: 155-5P6

I See You Well¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124| D

22/1

Winner of 8 of his 37 starts over fences, the latest in a 6-runner Sandown handicap (3m, good to soft) last December. Duly left his low-key reappearance well behind when chasing home a progressive rival at Plumpton and should make his presence felt here.

Form: 440-282

Hold That Taught²⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122| D

7/2

Little to shout about since latest success just over 2 years ago, often held back by his jumping/attitude. On the upside, he goes well fresh, resumes on an attractive mark and represents a yard in terrific form, so it wouldn't be the biggest of surprises were he to stage a revival .

Form: 3F/4596-

Planned Paradise²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 115

14/1

Consistent for Neil Mulholland last season but looked rusty when pulling up on his Chepstow reappearance for new stable at the end of last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 62463-P

Forecasts

Tea Clipper (10/3), Hold That Taught (7/2), Manothepeople (5/1), Hidden Heroics (6/1), Emir Sacree (13/2), Unanswered Prayers (11/1), Switch Hitter (12/1), Planned Paradise (14/1), I See You Well (22/1)

With the exception of his effort in last season's Scottish National, MANOTHEPEOPLE has done very little wrong since switched to fences and he put that Ayr disappointment behind him when going close on return at Exeter. The best is surely yet to come from this low-mileage 8-y-o and the fitting of cheekpieces could help eke out that little bit more that will be needed here. Unanswered Prayers is feared most ahead of Tea Clipper and Emir Sacree, while Hold That Taught is also worth a second look.