13:15 Ascot

Saturday 15 February 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3716:1016:45

Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 42.75s

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Selected odds by:

Samuel Spade²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 125

14/1

Four-time winner over hurdles for stable who won this race in 2024. Ran better than his finishing position (eighth of 12) in a valuable handicap at Windsor 27 days ago, looking like he'd place at one stage, weakened. Interesting back down in class but does need to prove his stamina for this trip.

Form: 10-3238

Thank You Ma'am^p⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 125| CD

9/2

Runner up for third time in a row when second at this venue in November and deservedly got off the mark over C&D next time, relishing the emphasis of stamina (made all and jumped well). Will be looking to repeat similar tactics today, but this is a stronger race.

Form: 0P-2221

Jilaijone^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 125

6/1

Ended long losing run (including finishing second 7 times) when easy winner at Uttoxeter over 2½ miles when suited by the sound pace and testing conditions. Worth a go at this trip on that evidence but has been raised 8 lb for that performance and has struggled to win off this mark previously.

Form: 5-42241

Dubrovnik Harry^t⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 124

16/1

Lightly-raced for an 8-y-o and clearly hasn't been the easiest to train. Highlight in this sphere came in a valuable handicap at Sandown this time last year, finishing a very creditable third of 14. Struggled over fences on sole run this season but very capable back over hurdles if all is well.

Form: P6/403-5

Dans Le Vent²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| D

25/1

Veteran performer performed with credit on penultimate run at Chepstow (third of 8, 23.6f) before forgivable effort when poorly placed at Windsor last month. Expected to run respectably, although he may find a few too good in this company.

Form: 3U/4630

Bertie B⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 118

17/2

Straightforward sort ran a career best when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) in December and he's better judged on that effort having been unsuited by a falsely run race when down the field at Kelso last time. This race should play more to his strengths. Each-way chance.

Form: 313-217

Hardy Fella^v¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 117| D

8/1

Inconsistent type but combination of visor/staying trip has seemingly revitalised him, building on creditable front-running effort when second at Wincanton (24.7f) when winning a 7-runner handicap at Market Rasen earlier this month, albeit in a thin race for the grade. Chance if on a going day.

Form: P59521

Molto Bene^t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 116| BF

16/1

Improved for 8-month break/wind surgery when defeating 16 rivals at Chepstow (19.5f) on reappearance but struggled in stronger race at Cheltenham since before pulling up at Southwell 45 days ago having suffered a breathing issue. Has shaped as though this trip will suit but needs to bounce back.

Form: 313-17P

Striking A Pose^b1⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 116| D

33/1

Dual hurdles winner at Exeter this time last year, but things haven't gone to plan after fairly positive comeback, pulling up over fences before below-par effort back over the smaller obstacles (23.9f) at Taunton. Mark is slipping and while first-time blinkers may spark a revival, others preferred.

Form: P8-34P5

Greyval²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

10/1

Won twice as a juvenile hurdler but her record of 0-8 in handicaps doesn't tell the whole story, having posted two very creditable placed efforts on her last two starts, latest when second of 10 (Fakenham, 20f) after 11 weeks off, shaping as though well worth a crack at this longer trip.

Form: 4-34632

Bective Abbey²⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 114| D

13/2

£150,000 purchase after sole win in Points and left disappointing stable debut behind when readily landing a maiden hurdle at Warwick last April. Unexposed and open to plenty of improvement tackling longer trip on handicap debut.

Form: 1/91-

Blue Hop^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 113| D

9/1

Low-mileage 8-y-o failed to take to fences in 3 starts last season but steadily improved in this sphere, culminating in a decisive victory at Doncaster (24.4f) putting his speed to good use in a race where 6 hurdles were omitted. Not fully exposed and remains of interest over staying trips.

Form: P75-631

Jatiluwih^p²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113| D

50/1

Is a long time without a win and has tumbled down the weights as a result, although he hasn't looked like capitalising on his falling mark. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 28-4367

Pinnacle Peak^p⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 113| D

50/1

Productive over hurdles during a light 2023 campaign, winning twice (once at Cheltenham) but things not gone to plans since, off for a year when well-beaten at that venue in November and was again below form when given another spin over fences in December. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 1414-04

Boston Boy²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112

20/1

Has shown plenty of temperament (running out twice this season) but took step in right direction (went without usual tongue-tie) when third in a novice at Doncaster (16.6f). Stepped up markedly in trip for handicap debut which could bring out improvement but he'll need a career-best to land this.

Form: 55-4RR3

Ithaka^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Ring| T: R Potter| OR: 104

28/1

Dual handicap hurdle winner this winter and far from disgraced in his bid to make it a hat-trick of wins, finishing a creditable third at Market Rasen (23.1f), unsuited by the emphasis on speed and rallied late on. Arrives in excellent heart but has more on his plate in this race.

Form: 331513

Golden Cosmos²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 103

16/1

Left disappointing reappearance well behind (following 22 months off) when back to form at Doncaster finishing a respectable third (behind Blue Hop) in a 17-runner handicap hurdle and shaping as if he retains all of his ability, although tough ask to break his maiden pitched into a stronger race.

Form: 3543/P3

Forecasts

Thank You Ma'am (9/2), Jilaijone (6/1), Bective Abbey (13/2), Hardy Fella (8/1), Bertie B (17/2), Blue Hop (9/1), Greyval (10/1), Samuel Spade (14/1), Molto Bene (16/1), Dubrovnik Harry (16/1), Golden Cosmos (16/1), Boston Boy (20/1), Dans Le Vent (25/1), Ithaka (28/1), Striking A Pose (33/1), Pinnacle Peak (50/1), Jatiluwih (50/1)

DUBROVNIK HARRY clearly hasn't been straightforward to train but he was third in a better handicap than this on his last run over hurdles and if he can recapture that form following a short-break, he's more than capable of winning a race of this nature. The reappearing Bective Abbey is totally unexposed tackling 3 miles for the first time on handicap debut, while Bertie B was unsuited by the run of the race last time and could outrun his odds now stepped up in trip.