Racecards
16:20 Ascot
Rosling King 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Alpine Slave
31- Form 6F1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, left moderate 3rd 2 out
- Form 240-41
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey B Fenton
mistakes, led, mistake 5th and next, headed and mistake 7th, lost place before 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 421024
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey B J Crowley
chased leader to 7th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when blundered and fell last
- Form 222/213
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
in touch, chased winner 7th, driven after 3 out, no impression when blundered badly 2 out, pulled up before last, dismounted
- Form 1-4413
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in touch, staying on same pace and no impression on winner when left 2nd 2 out
- Form 046-41P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
reminders after 1st, weakened after 7th, no chance when blundered 4 out
- Form 1-62
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
in touch until ridden and outpaced 4 out
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss A M Newton-Smith
- Jockey H Oliver
always behind, struggling and tailed off from 6th
Isard III (FR)
123- Form 1/1-F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
tracked leaders, led 7th, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well
- Form 04
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss A M Newton-Smith
- Jockey C Bolger
always behind, tailed off from 4 out
- Form 345-34
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, weakened from next, tailed off from 4 out
Montu
139- Form 0-00
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Karen George
- Jockey J M Maguire
always in rear, tailed off from 7th, blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 06
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer E James
- Jockey Mr S Walsh
always behind, lost touch 7th, tailed off
- Form 022314
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs S Lamyman
- Jockey T Siddall
reluctant to race, mistake 1st, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
A winner of a novices' hurdle over course and distance on soft ground, Far Horizon showed that he handles faster ground equally as well when a close third behind Il Cavaliere in handicap company at Kempton in January last time and should be tough to beat back against novices. While the form of the Henderson stable is a worry, the son of Phardante has enough in hand over his rivals on the form book to warrant support. Josh Gifford's Alpine Slave needed every yard of the two miles when winning at Fontwell last month so should appreciate the step up in trip, while Backbeat improved for the longer distance when winning at Newcastle last time. This is tougher though and, under a penalty, David Elsworth's gelding may struggle to follow up. French import and Newbury bumper winner Isard III makes his hurdling debut for Martin Pipe having fallen over fences on his only previous start this term. He could be anything but would probably prefer a softer surface. The unexposed Sargasso Sea from Jim Old's stable and Alan King's Fork Lightning are others to consider but we are happy to side with the Henderson horse, who gets the vote.