14:45 Ascot

Sunday 24 March 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Events At Ascot Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 3m 43.09s

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Selected odds by:

Royal Way⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121| D

5/1

Fair 1½m winner on Flat in France and has taken well to hurdling for new connections, winning 2 juveniles at Ludlow this year. A useful effort will be needed to defy top weight on handicap debut but the form of his second Ludlow win has been franked.

Form: 3211

Kourosh^t⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| BF| D

17/2

Fair winner on Flat in Germany who bolted up on his Wetherby hurdle debut in November. Running well when falling at Cheltenham next time but found little when turned over at short odds at Chepstow since. Given a short break ahead of handicap debut.

Form: 1F3

Yellow Star²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

12/1

Fairly useful form at best on the Flat and stepped up on hurdles debut third to subsequent Grade 2 winner Kalif du Berlais at Kempton when narrowly landing a 2m Lingfield novice (soft) in February. Might have found the run coming too soon when only fourth of 5 at Kempton since.

Form: 314

Spiced Rum^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: W S Kittow| OR: 116| D

15/2

Fair staying handicapper on Flat and going the right way over hurdles, winning juveniles at Hereford (maiden) and Sandown (handicap) since fitted with a hood. A 7 lb rise demands more but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 24311

Gifted Angel^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 116| D

14/1

Unable to win on the Flat but been a different story over hurdles, scoring for third time in this sphere at Kempton (2m, good) in October. Pulled up in a Taunton handicap on latest hurdle start but he has run respectably on AW Flat since. Cheekpieces back on. Others look less exposed.

Form: 15115P

Kado De Joie³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 110

5/1

French recruit who stepped up on his first 2 efforts over hurdles when winning a 5-runner Market Rasen juvenile last month. His strong-travelling style should lend itself to handicaps. Considered.

Form: 3251

Hamsiyann^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: A J Martin| OR: 109

3/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Improved effort over hurdles when second of 15 at Ludlow in a first-time tongue tie (retained) last month. His mark looks workable in relation to his Flat ability. Big player.

Form: 802

Palio⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 106

6/1

Fair maiden at up to 1½m on the Flat and has placed on 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles. More will be needed now handicapping in this sphere but he has the potential for better.

Form: 2P3

Vitani¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 101| DWS

20/1

Won 2 juvenile hurdles for Adam West last summer. Well beaten in stronger company in the autumn but has switched to Dan Skelton and had wind surgery ahead of this handicap hurdle debut after 6 months off. Worth a betting check.

Form: 21176

Non-Runners

Torneo³⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: Jamie Snowden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Hamsiyann (3/1), Royal Way (5/1), Kado De Joie (5/1), Palio (6/1), Spiced Rum (15/2), Torneo (8/1), Kourosh (17/2), Yellow Star (12/1), Gifted Angel (14/1), Vitani (20/1)

This looks competitive. Irish-raider HAMSIYANN should have plenty of scope from this sort of mark judged on his Flat ability and gets the vote, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Kado de Joie and the hat-trick seeking Royal Way head the many dangers in an interesting race.