Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
1m 7f 157y Good to Soft (Soft in places)
led, briefly joined before 2 out where led narrowly, soon ridden, kept on well run-in
prominent, ridden before 2 out soon lost second, rallied for second close home, not reach winner
3 1¼
5 12-0 147 t
midfield, smooth headway 2 out, soon ridden to chase winner, faded and lost second near finish
4 5
4 10-4 123
held up in rear, headway into midfield 2 out, soon pushed along, mistake last, kept on same pace
wore hood to post, held up in midfield, in touch with leaders 2 out, soon ridden, lost fourth approaching last, soon faded
midfield, ridden and weakened before 2 out
midfield, ridden before 2 out where not fluent, soon weakened
midfield, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in midfield, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in midfield, headway 2 out where not fluent, soon ridden and weakened
wore hood to post, midfield, ridden and faded 2 out
prominent, briefly disputed lead before 2 out where lost position, soon pushed along and faded
held up in rear, pushed along and no impression before 2 out
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £237.22 (5, 13) |
| Tricast | £712.95 (5, 13, 1) |
| Win | £8.70 (5) |
| Place | £2.50 (5), £8.50 (13), £1.50 (1) |
| Swinger | £4.60 (1, 5), £19.90 (1, 13), £49.50 (5, 13) |
| Exacta | £360.20 (5, 13) |
| Trifecta | £1,703.40 (5, 13, 1) |
On a day when fresh ground was provided on the hurdles course it may be more than a coincidence that five of the six horses to begin closest to the inside rail finished in the first five places and also nine lengths and more clear of the sixth horse to complete. In addition, the first two horses to jump the opening hurdle finished in the first two places.
WILFUL The place to be here was on the inside and out in front and, in this respect, he held all the aces. The form of the Welsh Champion Hurdle involving Celtic Dino and Alexei was boosted further by this all the way success. On the one hand he appeared to have something in hand at the line and, on the other, it may be important to remember the relatively easy trip he enjoyed from start to finish.
HOT FUSS Given his 33-1 odds, his proximity in second place adds plenty of substance to the notion that it was beneficial to be prominent towards the inside from the off.
ALEXEI Although he has clearly improved since finishing just in front of Wilful at Chepstow in October, the fact he was carrying top weight and was also 19lbs worse off with today’s winner made life very difficult for him here. Nonetheless, he still comes out of this race with great credit whilst competing off a mark 20lbs higher than the one he started the season off.
MONDO MAN I am not sure that today was the day to be held up so far back in this big field race. He did make some interesting late headway; however, his jumping tended to lack a little fluency which made life even tougher on a horse attempting to come from so far back.
HELNWEIN After chasing home Alexei on his seasonal debut I imagine his connections may be a little disappointed with this fifth place finish. He was a lot better off at the weights with the favourite and yet was beaten further here compared with when finishing behind him in the Greatwood.
WELSH CHARGER He attempted to make up ground after racing wide of the main pack which made life more difficult for him.
WRECKLESS ERIC I am not sure how much of an advantage it was to stick close to the inside rail but it certainly helped. His outside track position, therefore, probably did him no favours.
STICKTOTHEPLAN He raced widest of all in a race where it seemed to pay to stay close to the inside rail. I will draw a line through this 11th place finish and hope to see more from him on another day.
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Good to Soft | 12 | Fiercely Proud | 5 | 10 13 | 128 | 1327-F6 | 34 days | B Pauling (72 miles) | Kielan Woods | 12/ 1 | 3:44.10 | |
| 2023 | Good | 9 | Luccia | 5 | 11 8 | 136 | 1143-23 | 34 days | N J Henderson (27 miles) | Paul O'Brien | 9/ 2 | 3:44.60 | |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 12 | Tritonic | 4 | 11 0 | 141 | 15-4825 | 34 days | A King (47 miles) | Adrian Heskin | 8/ 1 | 3:46.25 | |
| 2020 | Heavy | 17 | Not So Sleepy | 8 | 11 6 | 142 | 10P-14R | 21 days | H Morrison (32 miles) | Tom O'Brien | 20/ 1 | 3:51.90 | |
| 2019 | Heavy | 13 | Not So Sleepy | 7 | 10 3 | 127 | 442741 | 29 days | H Morrison (32 miles) | Jonathan Burke | 9/ 2 | 3:50.75 | |
| 2018 | Soft | 21 | Mohaayed | 6 | 11 10 | 145 | 0231-47 | 34 days | D Skelton (93 miles) | Harry Skelton | 16/ 1 | 3:48.22 | |
| 2017 | Good to Soft | 17 | Hunters Call | 7 | 10 3 | 128 | 639-453 | 135 days | O Murphy (92 miles) | Jack Kennedy | 9/ 1 | 3:48.65 | |
| 2016 | Good to Soft | 19 | Brain Power | 5 | 11 11 | 149 | 121-381 | 14 days | N J Henderson (27 miles) | D J Mullins | 12/ 1 | 3:39.50 | |
| 2015 | Good to Soft | 21 | Sternrubin | 4 | 10 10 | 134 | 2222-11 | 23 days | P Hobbs & J White (144 miles) | Richard Johnson | 9/ 1 | 3:46.30 | |
| 2014 | Good to Soft | 18 | Bayan | 5 | 11 5 | 146 | 33-8124 | 98 days | G Elliott (210 miles) | D Condon | 14/ 1 | 3:47.60 | |
| 2013 | Soft | 20 | Willow's Saviour | 6 | 10 5 | 130 | 052P-11 | 43 days | D Skelton (93 miles) | Harry Skelton | 10/ 1 | 4:00.30 | |
| 2012 | Heavy | 21 | Cause Of Causes | 4 | 10 13 | 142 | 712613 | 34 days | G Elliott (210 miles) | D Condon | 25/ 1 | 4:11.50 | |
| 2011 | Soft | 16 | Raya Star | 5 | 10 1 | 134 | 1F4-213 | 21 days | A King (47 miles) | Wayne Hutchinson | 12/ 1 | 3:58.00 | |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 21 | Sentry Duty | 6 | 11 9 | 144 | 0100-01 | 49 days | N J Henderson (27 miles) | B J Geraghty | 12/ 1 | 3:47.00 | |
| 2007 | Good to Firm | 18 | Jack The Giant | 5 | 11 0 | 121 | 11136-1 | 8 days | N J Henderson (27 miles) | M A Fitzgerald | 9/ 4 | 3:42.19 | |
| 2006 | Good to Soft | 20 | Acambo | 5 | 11 9 | 136 | 11350-1 | 224 days | D Pipe (140 miles) | Timmy Murphy | 7/ 1 | 3:52.50 |
