Racecards
16:10 Ascot
EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 141y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 2141
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Kevin Jones
chased leaders, driven to challenge after 3 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, no chance with easy winner
- Form 18-212
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch, headway to track leaders 6th, led approaching 2 out, quickened clear approaching last, eased closing stages, impressive
- Form 58-51
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
in touch, lost place before 5th, behind from 4 out, pulled up after next
- Form 4-P2131
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey G B Watters
led, mistake 6th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 8/251-22
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey James Banks
tracked leader, pushed along after 5th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 60-33
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey David Bass
held up in rear, headway 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 287-P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up towards rear, outpaced 4 out, stayed on after 2 out, never a threat
- Form 02-1FP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey W T Kennedy
always behind, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 214-42
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders, lost place before 3 out, rallied before last, kept on under pressure
- Form 3-1P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
with leader, slow 3rd, soon lost place and pushed along, weakening when mistake 5th, behond when pulled up 5 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A tricky end to proceedings but it's probably worth giving another chance to DUKE DES CHAMPS, who was conceding 9lb to course specialist Masterplan when only beaten a short-head in a handicap over track and trip before Christmas – Richard Johnson takes over the reins from a conditional today. Western Cape beat King Kayf and Minstrel Royal over course and distance on the same afternoon but is giving 10lb to that pair now, not taking into account riders' claims. Expedite will have to step up markedly on his Huntingdon victory to follow up and Fakenham runner-up What A Moment also needs more.
Formwatch
Western Cape (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on outside 3 out, 2nd before next, led before last, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec beating King Kayf (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.
Duke Des Champs (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd on inside travelling well before 2 out, every chance when mistake 2 out, driven between last two, rallied in closing stages, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Masterplan (11-3) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Expedite (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led briefly after 3 out, led again 2 out, edged left before last, clear towards finish, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Late Night Lily (10-5) by 3l, 16 ran.
Masterplan (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Made all, aout 2 lengths ahead last, driven out to hold on gamely in closing stages, all out, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Duke Des Champs (11-12) by shd, 13 ran.
King Kayf 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 2nd after 7th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed before the last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 3 3/4l behind Western Cape (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Minstrel Royal 20-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, pushed along on inside before 2 out, went 3rd before the last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 5 1/4l behind Western Cape (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Pawn Star (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov.
Swizzler (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) In touch on outside, lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Nov.
What A Moment (IRE) 4-5fav (11-0) Led, hit 6th, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly when not fluent last, kept on flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Prince Of Steal (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Yanmare (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Midfield, under pressure before 4 out, behind when pulled up after next, at Lingfield 2m 3f (4) sft in Nov.