16:10 Ascot

Saturday 17 February 2024

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

Ascot Racecourse Supports Box4Kids Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 50.07s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Hurricane Harvey^t⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126| D

22/1

Recorded back-to-back wins around 3m last winter and has posted creditable efforts in defeat this season, cthird at Ludlow (3m) last time. Ought to be in the shake-up once again.

Form: 92-3943

Supreme Gift^v1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 126| C| D

16/1

Triple winner in novice hurdles last season and improved from his chasing debut to score in a 4-runner Ascot handicap in November. Not in the same form over fences twice since though so more required reverted to hurdles.

Form: 94-314P

Fair Frontieres^t⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 125

40/1

Three-time winner over hurdles in 2021/22. Not seen again until pulling up over fences at Huntingdon in November but was in the process of running a lot better when falling at the last in a Wetherby handicap hurdle on Boxing Day (would have finished third). Considered.

Form: 5116/PF

Loup De Maulde^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 125

9/2

Tough and reliable customer scored four times around 3m last year and he went without his usual cheekpices when a promising second at Huntingdon on his recent return. Big shout with headgear back on.

Form: 12147-2

Honor Grey^b⁴⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 121| D

14/1

Progressive sort who took 3m handicap hurdle at Aintree when last seen out 16 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running on his comeback and market should prove informative.

Form: 5711/31-

Coco Mademoiselle³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 121| BF| D

9/2

Winning Irish pointer who landed the odds in Lingfield novice hurdle in November and backed up that effort under a penalty when second of 11 in 2m4f Huntingdon novice 36 days ago. Much respected now going into handicaps with her stamina drawn out more.

Form: 611-212

Astronomic View^p1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 115| BF

11/1

Exeter bumper winner who has been shaping up well in defeat over hurdles in recent months, again finding only one too good at Wincanton (21.4f, heavy) 42 days ago. No surprise to see him go well again in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3-53222

Exmoor Forest¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Ella Herbison⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 113

40/1

Landed 25f Warwick maiden hurdle last May. Pulled up in 2 handicaps since but took a step back in right direction after a breathing operation when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Exeter (23.1f, heavy) 17 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 34-1PP4

Havaila²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 112

3/1

Resumed winning ways in 2m4f handicap hurdle at Sandown ( heavy) 22 days ago. Up 4 lb but he's expected to be bang there again with this longer trip also a likely plus.

Form: 6231-61

Sporting Mike^t⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 112| D

9/1

Point winner who achieved a fairly useful level of form over hurdles last season. Has twice disappointed over fences since though and had a wind op before only 10th at Doncaster on latter occasion. Something to prove back in this sphere.

Form: 7432-60

Crossing The Bar^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

28/1

Successful twice over hurdles at Plumpton (both at 25f) during second half of last season but yet to match that level this term, only ninth at Doncaster 20 days ago. On a handy mark but needs to step forward.

Form: 556459

Rare Clouds⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: Simon Earle| OR: 110

8/1

Confirmed recent promise with success in 7-runner handicap hurdle at Wincanton (21.4f, heavy) 42 days ago by 6 lengths from Astronomic View. Not discounted despite taking a 6 lb rise.

Form: 44-2331

I'm A Starman^p²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: M G Rimell| OR: 104

20/1

Unreliable sort who scored for the first time in almost 3 years in 10-runner handicap at Plumpton (25f, soft) 26 days ago. Needs to back it up off a 4 lb higher mark with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: PV2441

Non-Runners

Mt Fugi Park²⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: 2nd Preference

Don't Rightly Know²⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: P Gundry J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Havaila (3/1), Mt Fugi Park (4/1), Loup De Maulde (9/2), Coco Mademoiselle (9/2), Don't Rightly Know (8/1), Rare Clouds (8/1), Sporting Mike (9/1), Astronomic View (11/1), Honor Grey (14/1), Supreme Gift (16/1), I'm A Starman (20/1), Hurricane Harvey (22/1), Crossing The Bar (28/1), Exmoor Forest (40/1), Fair Frontieres (40/1)

LOUP DE MAULDE is fancied to build on the promise of his Huntingdon reappearance second now the cheekpieces go back on and continue Robbie Llewellyn's fine season. The unbeaten Mt Fugi Park rates a major threat though going into handicaps for the first time with more to offer. Sandown-scorer Havaila is weighted to have a big say while in-form pair Don't Rightly Know and Coco Mademoiselle also need factoring into this highly competitive event.