Racecards
12:40 Ascot
United House Construction Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm (Firm in Places, Good in Places on the Uphill)
- Form 212
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Mrs A Perrett
- Jockey J Tizzard
mistakes, took keen hold, pressed leader, jumped left first, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, narrow lead when headed before 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 022-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
jumped right first, tracked leaders, led 3rd until after 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
Highway Robbery
318- Form 6FP-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
led, jumped slow and headed 3rd, led after 5th until 4 out, weakened next
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Gallagher
- Jockey J Mogford
always in rear, lost touch from 5th, tailed off when mistakes 3 out
Nawamees (IRE)
224- Form 543-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, led 2 out, came clear approaching last, easily
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey R Greene
pulled hard in rear but in touch, headway to lead 4 out, narrowly headed before 2 out, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, no impression
In depth
Verdict
The ones that catch the eye most of all are Fantastic Champion, Dempsey and Kaparolo, with Fantastic Champion getting our vote. Fantastic Champion is a flat winner at 12 furlongs and has shown promise in all of his hurdle races to date. His turn cannot be far away. The nicely bred Dempsey ran in the Cheltenham and Aintree bumpers last season and began this campaign with a good win a Hereford bumper. He has to be respected. As does Kaparolo, who came good at Plumpton last time but has to concede a winner's penalty to the field. He stayed well on the flat so will probably want to make this a test. Optimaite won on the flat at up to 11 furlongs from a mark of 86 so he too could go well even though this is his debut. Nawamees had bits of form on the flat and Murzim won at 10 and 14 furlongs on the flat from marks in the 70s. However, we'll side with Fantastic Champion.