Petty Cash merits a second look for the in-form Henry Daly as he comes back from a break and wind surgery and that could help his finishing effort given he’s not always found as much as has looked likely, but if there was ever a time to back ECEPARTI then surely today is the day.
In truth Venetia Williams has been a little quiet over the past couple of weeks, but I don’t see that extending for much longer, and Eceparti won by an incredibly easy twenty-nine lengths on his reappearance here last year, so catching him fresh, as is so often the case with one from the yard, may be key.
He followed up on his next start here at Chepstow and despite that wide-margin win, somehow rocks up here only a pound higher than that winning mark. There is plenty to like about his chances in a contest that might not take that much winning.
This middle-distance handicap hurdle is not an easy race to solve, with a whole host of likely improvers, but one of those that could take a step forward is CAPTAINS ROAD, who caught the eye when sixth to easy winner Quebecois here last month.
Captains Road travelled smoothly into the race and looked a threat with three to jump, but he faded out of things in the last furlong and a half and it might be that he is just a weak finisher. That was his first run since April, however, and it qualifies him for a mark.
A big unit, there is every chance that he needed the run for fitness, so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt on this occasion. He has won a point-to-point in Ireland, so he does know how to get his head in front and has the assistance of Sam Twiston-Davies, who takes over from Lilly Pinchin in the saddle.
Aucunrisque looked just in need of the run in the preliminaries at Cheltenham last time out and in finishing third to an unexposed pair, he probably ran as well as he could have done under the circumstances.
A very useful 140+ rated hurdler at his peak, he’s clearly not of that level anymore but still looks capable of winning races, and Freddie Gordon can claim his 5lb allowance here, which he couldn’t do at Cheltenham.
Almost all of Chris Gordon’s have been needing a run or two to put them straight, so at a likely double-figure price Aucunrisque makes plenty of each-way appeal under conditions he’ll enjoy.
REGARDE scored at Kempton last time by 3 3/4 lengths from Almazhar Garde despite a wide trip and a waiting ride at a track that tends to favour more positive tactics.
He hails from the Jamie Snowden yard going great guns at present, with three runs and four seconds from the stable’s last ten runners, and this horse looks sure to benefit from the slightly stiffer test that Ascot provides.
Law of Supply showed improved form to win at Worcester last time, but that was on heavy ground and he’s upped in class here. He's got a slightly patchy record overall and has finished weakly in the past so I’m inclined to oppose him at a track which will test his mettle.
Published at 0915 GMT 22/11/24
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