Vision De Maine (15:10) set to build on solid maiden fences campaign.
Friday’s Ascot Tips
12:15 Kripticjim
12:50 Doctor Blue
13:25 Lucky Place
14:00 Royal Jewel
14:35 Fortune De Mer
15:10 Vision De Maine
15:45 Saint Jeannais
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Joe Tizzard, who enjoyed a fine November Meeting at Cheltenham as part of his good early-season form, won this race last year with First Confession and is fancied to win it again with bumper winner KRIPTICJIM.
He showed plenty to work on when second on his hurdling debut three weeks ago and improvement should be forthcoming. Prior to his fall, he looked set to win between the flags on yielding ground, so this quicker surface shouldn’t be a worry.
He’s marginally preferred to the ex-French Loriko, who is slightly more exposed, while Reckless Spending also warrants attention given his sales price and the calibre off his stable. This trip looks like a good starting point, too.
Representing last year’s winning connections, the Sam Thomas-trained DOCTOR BLUE is just about the most persuasive option, after a cracking second in the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on his debut over flights four weeks ago.
However, Idaho Sun was superior to the selection in bumpers – he was sixth at Cheltenham, after all – and made a winning start in this sphere for which he carries a penalty, while Irish recruit Red Oak has joined an excellent stable and is worth watching closely in the betting. Getawhiskey completes the small but select field and is fancied to improve upon her hurdling debut with that experience under her belt.
LUCKY PLACE brings considerable potential to the novice chasing ranks, and is taken to make a winning start in this sphere, following last year’s Howden Ascot Hurdle and Relkeel Hurdle victor.
Having seemingly failed to stay when well-held at Cheltenham in March (where he also didn’t jump well), this 2m5f trip looks ideal. Jet To Vegas is no slouch over hurdles either, and shaped well when runner-up on his fencing bow at Perth last month. That should ensure Nicky Henderson’s smart sort doesn’t have things all his own way, though he has a little more to prove in terms of the trip.
Thomas Mo has no worries on that score and although a relative latecomer to chasing, would be a big threat from the front if getting into a good rhythm.
The one with the most appealing profile is ROYAL JEWEL, who didn’t convince with his stamina for this trip at Newton Abbot during the spring, but it was a different story back there on his reappearance last month when the six-year-old produced a career-best to take an 11-runner handicap in decisive fashion. The return to a right-hand track will be in Royal Jewel’s favour too.
He thus gets the nod ahead of Your Darling, a dual previous winner of this race who returns to action after an absence of 544 days. The consistent Courtland, who is fit and in-form after a fine second at Sandown, could prove to be a bigger threat than Neon Moon who looks well-treated but may lack the pace for this trip.
Lord Baddesley completes the field and impressed at Newbury on his reappearance; a 7 lb higher mark in a better race means he will probably need to step forward again, though.
Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ FORTUNE DE MER left his hurdling debut form behind when winning a Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham last month. With better still to come, he is taken to follow up on his handicap bow from this BHA mark of 124.
Fellow last-time-out winners Trustintimes and Manuelito are respected, with the former rated the biggest danger as he chases a hat-trick over hurdles. Moveit Like Minnie ran well when third behind the subsequent Greatwood winner at this C&D 20 days ago and is next on the list.
Elsewhere, Poet Laureate – who represents last year’s winning yard, and is a different type to the more experienced Aucunrisque – looked an exciting sort when winning easily at Plumpton earlier this month. Also, the market should help in regard to the chance of French raider Inner Success, who could be fairly treated on his Irish Flat form.
Six-year-old VISION DE MAINE‘s solid first campaign over fences included a win on reappearance, which suggests he could be ready to roll on this seasonal return. This ground is in his favour, and he shaped as if still in good form when last seen at Plumpton in February, despite finishing fourth.
Montregard reacted well to a visor when scoring at Worcester on his last appearance back in May. Though not the most reliable, he will be a threat if resuming in similar form.
However, Jubilant is a reliable sort, and the handicapper has probably given him a chance following a 2 lb drop, while Safe Destination is next on the list for the in-form Twiston-Davies stable. He’s a reliable front-runner and has more experience over fences than All Authorized who is yet to match his good hurdling form over the bigger obstacles.
Despite being relatively unfancied in the betting, SAINT JEANNAIS has created a really good impression, catching the eye of the Timeform race reporters on last month’s Worcester debut. He looks up to defying a penalty, although Irish point winners Hitintheheadlines and Double The Dance would rate possible threats if the betting speaks in their favour.
Secret Sniper showed enough in two starts last winter to suggest he is a contender, perhaps more so than The Walk, whose pedigree (dam an unraced half-sister to the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River) suggests he may need a bit more time.
Also of some interest is Mr Winter, who is Chris Honour’s first bumper runner at the track. His dam was a bumper/2m hurdle winner and also scored over a mile and a half on the Flat.
Friday’s Ascot Tips
12:15 Kripticjim
12:50 Doctor Blue
13:25 Lucky Place
14:00 Royal Jewel
14:35 Fortune De Mer
15:10 Vision De Maine
15:45 Saint Jeannais
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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