Racecards
14:00 Ascot
William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Class B)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Form 4112-20
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
soon struggling in rear, tailed off and pulled up approaching 8th
- Form 4/43153
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P C O'Neill
prominent, led 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace
Hulysse Royal (FR)
1001- Form 1203P5/
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey M Bradburne
in touch until weakened approaching 8th, soon tailed off
Kadara (IRE)
28- Form 16P-021
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
in touch, ridden after 3 out, no impression until stayed on approaching last, went 2nd flat
- Form 4220-P3
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
in touch, making headway when mistake 8th, no chance after
- Form 0/1412F-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
held up behind, headway from 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened
- Form 144/0-21
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey M Batchelor
led until 7th, prominent, led after 3 out, ridden and headed next, kept on
- Form 200-312
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
in touch, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
- Form 10/221
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
held up towards rear, mistakes 3rd and 4th, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened
- Form 15/4-311
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, no impression after
- Form 10-5056
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, pressed leaders after 8th, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out
- Form 0122-10
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer Mrs S Williams
- Jockey R Walford
chased leaders until 8th, weakened next
- Form 1U-3250
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace until stayed on close home
- Form 1300-13
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey J Goldstein
in touch until weakened approaching 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Martin Pipe won this 12 months ago with Korelo and is represented this year by Neutron and Vodka Bleu but neither make much appeal at the weights and we prefer to side with Kadara, who needed every yard of the extended two-mile trip at Sandown last time and should do better still over today's distance. Robert Alner's mare has only been raised 6lbs by the handicapper for her Sandown success and has solid claims of following up with the likely strong pace sure to suit. Top weight Spectroscope has struggled to regain the winning thread since his Triumph Hurdle success, while Bob The Piler and Almaravide both have more to do off their new marks following last time out wins. Venetia Williams has her string in good order at present so both King Soloman and Joes Edge have to be respected but we are happy to stick with Kadara to supplement her Sandown win.