Racecards
13:15 Ascot
Howden Graduation Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 8y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £40,000 added
- Winner: £20,812
- 2nd: £9,568
- 3rd: £4,784
- 4th: £2,392
- Form 3/7P54-P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey Mitchell Bastyan
in rear, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, never showed
Ex Patriot (IRE)
413- Form 12344/9-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Miss Ellmarie Holden
- Jockey Mr Derek O'Connor
towards rear, went into 3rd after 4 out, hit 3 out, soon ridden and gradually faded
- Form 34/114P-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 147
mid-division, hampered by faller 9th, headway to track leader 5 out, pushed along home turn, keeping on one pace and well held when bad mistake last
- Form 14/1123-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
prominent, jumped left on occasions, hit 8th, still close up when fell 9th
- Form 4967F-5
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey C Gethings
led, mistake 8th, headed 9th, remained close up, hit 5 out, soon pushed along, weakened 3 out
- Form 52/16-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
handy, jumped left throughout, led and mistake 9th, went clear going easily before 2 out, kept on well, comfortably
- Form 62P3P-1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Page Fuller
not fluent 1st in rear, jumped left at times, headway into 4th 11th, ridden and chased leader before 2 out, soon left behind, kept on but never on terms with easy winner
Previous results
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
In depth
Verdict
Things went awry for MESSIRE DES OBEAUX after he beat Protektorat in a Grade 2 at Wincanton at the start of the year but he’s had a break and will be hard to beat if returning to his best form. Black Op is starting to look a light of former days and Danny Whizzbang is struggling while Legends Ryde only won a novices’ handicap at Ffos Las but L'Homme Presse was a cosy winner on his fencing bow at Exeter and Pencilfulloflead should appreciate this drop in class. Gordon Elliott’s charge won a Grade 2 at Punchestown last season and was then second in a Grade 1 at Limerick. This is his trip and he'll have a big say in proceedings if fully wound-up.
Formwatch
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 22-1 (10-3) In rear, bad mistake 10th, ridden before 13th, soon struggling, pulled up before 16th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Soon mid-division, pushed along briefly 5th, 12th approaching 3 out, soon no impression, 9th of 17, 30 1/2l behind Cayd Boy (11-2) at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Messire Des Obeaux (FR) 4-6fav (11-8) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 9th, clear 12th, shaken up and reduced lead when not fluent 3 out, headed after 2 out, pulled up when beaten 2nd after last, dismounted, at Wetherby 3m (3) gs in Mar.
Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, 3rd after 8th, pushed along in 2nd before straight, no extra from before 2 out where slight mistake, one pace, 3rd of 8, 8 1/4l behind Eklat De Rire (11-2) at Naas 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Black Op (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Led until before 2nd, chased winner until 13th, mistake next, struggling after 15th, well held from after 4 out, 5th of 7, 19 1/2l behind Wishing And Hoping (11-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
L'Homme Presse (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd after 11th, challenging when mistake 3 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Gunsight Ridge (11-1) by 6l, 8 ran.
Legends Ryde 5-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, pushed along after 5 out, rallied next, led 3 out, clear next, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Lady Kk (11-11) by 5 1/2l, 6 ran.