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12:45 Ascot

Friday 20 December 2024

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Howden Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 5f 141y | 13 Runners | Turf

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SKY BET EXTRA PLACE RACESky Bet paying 4 places instead of 3

Champagne Twist³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁶⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 131

7/2

Career best when collaring stablemate late in competitive EBF Final handicap at Sandown (19.8f) in March. Final outing at Aintree best excused and race yet to unfold when falling three out at Cheltenham 34 days ago. Ground versatile and should relish slight step up in trip (21.5f) here. Player.

Form: 42119-U

Stoner's Choice^p,t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| CD

22/1

C&D winner. Successful over fences at fences and hurdles at Kempton in 2022/23. Can make mistakes. Returned from 18-month absence when second of 4 at Kempton 39 days ago (21f, good to soft, 14/1). That race looked to fall apart however, and this is a tougher contest.

Form: 43321/2

Irish Hill^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jay Tidball⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| C

17/2

Plenty of good efforts without success last term. Low-key return but successful in handicap at Plumpton (20.5f) in November, perked up by change of headgear. Can be a tricky customer (races in snatches) as shown when second at Wincanton last month (flattered by proximity to winner). Likes it here.

Form: 532-P12

Whatsupwithyou^p,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Elliott England⁽¹⁰⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 125| CD

20/1

Back to best when winning at Ludlow (21.2f soft) in December 2023 before a string of respectable second placed efforts, last of which came on comeback at Fontwell (19f) when racing without cheekpieces. Well-backed when headgear back on at Cheltenham 35 days ago but a shade disappointing that day.

Form: 9122-29

East India Express²³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123

7/2

One win from four hurdle starts. Ran well when second of 13 in novice hurdle (5/2) at Newbury (16.3f, soft) in February, sticking to his task but always held by smart winner, Last seen when unseating at Punchestown Festival. Returns from 233-day absence but lightly-raced and in very good hands.

Form: 1/142U-

Dibble Decker^p,t²⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁶⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 122| BF

20/1

Back-to-back winner over fences last term and with tongue tie added scored at Wincanton (20f) in January. Backed that up with a solid second at Huntingdon (19.8f) before disappointing at Market Rasen in April. Not seen for 254 days and this his first run over hurdles for over two years,

Form: 15/9123-

Double Powerful^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Dylan Johnston| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 121

11/4

Highly progressive, strong-travelling sort who is on a remarkable winning run. Scored at Fontwell (19.1f) in November. Turned out under a penalty a week later and produced career-best to land six-timer in competitive Cheltenham handicap (21f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Looks set to run well again.

Form: 11-1111

Yellow Star^p1⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118

12/1

Fairly useful on Flat and similar form in this sphere, successful in a 2m Lingfield novice (soft) in February. Decent fourth of 11 in 2m Chepstow handicap on comeback but did not see out the longer trip as expected when third to Irish Hill (20.5f Plumpton, good to soft) 46 days ago. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 1474-43

The Height Of Fame^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Beau Morgan| T: K Burke| OR: 112| D

25/1

Struck on 21.5f Newton Abbot reappearance in July. Went close at Worcester the following month and cast aside a couple of lesser runs when fourth at Wincanton (21.5f) in November (form of the race has taken a knock since). Outclassed in Listed hurdle 25 days ago and returns to handicapping now.

Form: 123444

Stay If U Want To^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Benjamin Macey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109

8/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who has made a sound start over hurdles, off the mark in a Hereford maiden in May. Similar form back from short break when second on handicap debut at Wincanton in October but could not live with Double Powerful when seventh at Cheltenham (21f, good to soft) last month.

Form: 22-1227

Patanita⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Finn Lambert| T: G Nicholls| OR: 107WS

50/1

Won a point bumper and a bumper under Rules before encouraging effort after 22 months off when third on hurdles bow at Huntingdon (19.6f) in March. Backward step when well-beaten fourth of 6 in novice at Kempton (21f) in April. Disappointed on return at Ascot last month, had wind operation since.

Form: 11U/34-9

Don Rafael²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 107

9/1

Winner at Stratford in July. Creditable third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (good, 3/1) in November, before scoring at same venue (19.7f, good to soft) 23 days ago, showing improved form. Progressive but this is his toughest test to date.

Form: 213231

Rebel Intentions^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Anderson| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 104| C| D

25/1

Course winner. Returned from a break at the top of his game, going one place better than at Stratford when bagging 7-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton (21f) in October, staying on well. Found to have an irregular heartbeat when well-beaten in handicap at Cheltenham (21f, good to soft) 35 days ago.

Form: P50-210

Forecasts

Double Powerful (11/4), East India Express (5/1), Champagne Twist (6/1), Irish Hill (15/2), Don Rafael (8/1), Stoner's Choice (12/1), Stay If U Want To (12/1), The Height Of Fame (14/1), Dibble Decker (14/1), Whatsupwithyou (14/1), Yellow Star (16/1), Rebel Intentions (33/1), Patanita (50/1)

DOUBLE POWERFUL can land a remarkable 7-timer, having posted a career-best effort at Cheltenham 35 days ago, and he can get the job done again. There are a host of notable challengers, led by Champagne Twist whose victory in the EBF Final handicap at Sandown should not be forgotten. The unexposed East India Express could be dangerous if ready to roll on seasonal return.