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Racecards

12:35 Ascot

Des Gleason Graduation Chase (Class 2)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 5f 110y
  • Going: Good to Soft (Round Crs Soft plcs, Home Straight Good plcs)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £25,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 25.70s
  • Off Time: 12:38:21
  • 6 Ran
1
Silk - Red, White spots and sleeves, Black cap
  • Form 2102-18
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 135

held up, weakened 15th, mistake last

2
Silk - Yellow and Purple quartered, White sleeves, Red cap
  • Form F117/68
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-7

held up, ridden 11th, weakened 13th tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

3
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap
2/1
  • Form 72/14PP-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 145

tracked leader, led after 3 out headed 2 out ridden led flat and headed last strides

4
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
7/1
  • Form 474P6-3
  • Age 12
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 142

tracked leader, ridden and outpaced 12th, stayed on moderately

5
Silk - Dark Blue, Red star, halved sleeves, Red cap

Neltina

27 DC
40/1
  • Form 3F4-410
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 120

led, jumped left 4 out weakened and headed after 3 out

6
Silk - WHITE, ROYAL BLUE sash, WHITE sleeves, RED armlets, RED cap
10/11
  • Form 4/2519-6
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 147

held up, towards rear headway after 9th ridden after 3 out led 2 out not fluent and headed after last, ran on to lead again last strides, gamely

In depth

Verdict

Tamarinbleu gets the call here ahead of Crozan and Carrigeen Victor. An interesting opener in which Nicky Henderson's Crozan, who looked good when winning a novice event last season before his form tailed off, and David Pipe's one-time useful hurdler It Takes Time are the highest rated. However, Pipe's other runner, Tamarinbleu, showed very good novice chase form last season and, having made a pleasing return when sixth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, he looks the one to beat today. If he could recapture his February 2005 form, Irish raider Carrigeen Victor would hold solid claims, and Briery Fox is certainly no mug, but Neltina's recent win came off a mark of just 112. Once again, then, the selection is Tamarinbleu.

Formwatch

Briery Fox (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, weakened from 11th, 8th of 13, well behind Bob Bob Bobbin (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.

Carrigeen Victor (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Towards rear throughout, never a factor, 8th of 11, more than 38l behind Tumbling Dice (11-4) at Cork 2m chs Grd 2 hvy.

Crozan (FR) 16-1 (11-7) In touch until weakened after 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Star De Mohaison (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr, 15 ran.

It Takes Time (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (11-7) Held up in 3rd, went 2nd briefly 4 out, every chance between 3 out and 2 out, switched left after 2 out, soon weakened and eased, 3rd of 4, well behind Cornish Sett (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m Grad Ch (2) gs in Nov.

Neltina 25-1 (11-5) Always behind, mistakes, 13th of 20, well behind I Hear Thunder (11-2) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.

Tamarinbleu (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 16, 10l behind Exotic Dancer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.