14:25 Ascot

Saturday 17 February 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3616:1016:45

Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 41.42s

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Selected odds by:

Le Milos⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 146| BF| D

66/1

Big improver over fences for this yard last season, including a win in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Well-held third of 5 back over hurdles on Market Rasen reappearance in November. Possible he'll come on for the run but this trip looks shorter than ideal.

Form: 4/1120-3

Rare Edition³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139

15/2

Ended his novice hurdle season in disappointing fashion but firmly back on track in handicaps this term, building on Doncaster reappearance second when going one better over 2m at Kempton under Harry Cobden last month. Only raised 3 lb and enters the reckoning back up in trip.

Form: 12P0-31

Jay Jay Reilly³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

10/1

Sprang a 33/1 surprise back hurdling for the first time in nearly 2 years when taking the competitive Lanzarote at Kempton last month. There was certainly no fluke about that success and he should remain very competitive up 7 lb.

Form: 1-23581

Hyland⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

10/1

Won handicaps at Warwick (21f, good) and Cheltenham (3m, soft) in November. Even better form when third of 12 over 3m at Newbury in December. Should prove as effective back at shorter and one to consider from an unchanged mark.

Form: 327-113

Santos Blue^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

14/1

Progressive 3-time winner during novice season and built on several solid efforts this term when landing 9-runner Wetherby handicap (2½m) 5 weeks ago, bad mistake 2 out but rallying to lead again final 100 yds. Respected up 5 lb.

Form: 13-2721

Soaring Glory^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| C

16/1

Smart hurdler at his best, winner of the Betfair Hurdle and a listed handicap here in 2021. Has drawn a blank since but placed twice this season and he's been dropped another 3 lb. Stable continues in good form.

Form: 7-35255

Rambo T⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 132| D

16/1

Second success of the season when seeing off Irish Hill at Newbury (20.5f, soft) over Christmas but his jumping was scrappy and that is a concern now heading into a more competitive race off 9 lb higher.

Form: U-71361

Teddy Blue^p,t1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 131

14/1

Free-goer who won a 2m Plumpton handicap hurdle and was a good second in the Swinton at Haydock last spring. Disappointed on first 3 starts back but returned to form with cheekpieces added (retained) when sixth of 19 to Jay Jay Reilly in Lanzarote at Kempton (21f) last month. Tongue tie refitted.

Form: 1-2U996

Monviel⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 128| BF| C

17/2

Useful course winner over hurdles for Philip Hobbs last term. Made a promising start to chasing when second at Newton Abbot (2m, heavy) in October but dropped away tamely when last of 4 here 5 weeks later (found to have an irregular heartbeat). Reverts to hurdles after a break.

Form: 8/155-24

Issam^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds| OR: 126| D

12/1

Second success since coming from France when seeing off 5 rivals at Exeter (18.5f, heavy) just before Christmas. Even better form when second of 9 over 2½m at Sandown (heavy) 22 days ago. Came well clear of the third so a 2 lb nudge is fair enough.

Form: 221-312

Ostend²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 126| D

66/1

Progressed again to get off the mark at Kilbeggan last April. Shaped as if better for the run sent handicapping at Ballinrobe 3 months later (final start for Peter Croke). His mark isn't obviously generous and a watching brief is the percentage call on his debut for a new stable.

Form: 5P521-5

Irish Hill^b³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125| CD

9/2

Won this race off a 3 lb lower mark last season. Form has levelled off since but he was a fair second at Newbury (20.5f) in first-time blinkers just after Christmas and shaped better than result when ninth in the Lanzarote since, faring best of those who forced pace. Gingell takes handy 5 lb off.

Form: 00-4729

Mothill^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 123

18/1

Consistent type who made it back-to-back hurdle wins (ran on Flat in between) when readily seeing off 6 rivals at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. However, found out when stepped up in class for the Lanzarote and this no easier. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 42-2118

Bad^p1⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 122WS

9/2

Winner in France. Placed in 3 handicap hurdles this season, although he did hit at temperament when third of 14 over 2m here in December, losing ground and labouring at halfway before rallying. Up in trip now with cheekpieces added (has also had wind surgery).

Form: 106-323

In The Air^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 121| D

28/1

Triple hurdle winner. Good start over fences when second at Huntingdon in October but has pulled up at Sandown and Newbury since. Now reverts to hurdles on first outing for a new yard after leaving Gary Moore. Cheekpieces also back on.

Form: 62-12PP

Arqoob³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 118

28/1

Useful handicapper on the level for William Jarvis and gained a second win over hurdles for his current yard at Sandown (2m) in November. Probably unsuited by very testing ground there next time and back on track when third at Kempton (2m) since. Up in trip. 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 23-3153

Forecasts

Bad (9/2), Irish Hill (9/2), Rare Edition (15/2), Monviel (17/2), Hyland (10/1), Jay Jay Reilly (10/1), Issam (12/1), Teddy Blue (14/1), Santos Blue (14/1), Rambo T (16/1), Soaring Glory (16/1), Mothill (18/1), Arqoob (28/1), In The Air (28/1), Ostend (66/1), Le Milos (66/1)

IRISH HILL shaped better than the result in the Lanzarote and might be worth siding with to bounce back to form and land this race for the second year running as he's starting to look well treated again, particularly if Freddie Gingell's 5 lb claim is taken into account. Soaring Glory is another who has tasted success here and has plenty of handicapping scope so he's respected for the in-form Jonjo O'Neill yard. Hyland and Dan Skelton pair Jay Jay Reilly and Santos Blue complete the shortlist.