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Preview
11 April 2008
4-40 Ascot K-Fit Veterans
Handicap Chase Class 2 0-145 Good 3M
1. El Vaquero - Was highly
regarded over fences in his earlier days and setbacks have taken the
edge of the horse in recent years for top connections and comes into
this handicap today. A grade 1 novice winner over fences he has
regressed since those days and was no match for Master Minded latest
in a handicap. Still that form has been franked and over this longer
distance he could well bounce back to some sort of form in a
condensed handicap for older horses. The ground should be ok for him
even though more give would give him a better chance, but he is
entitled to build on his form over 3M with only one effort over this
far.
My rating - 133
2. Briery Fox - the first of
two handicappers in this race for Henry Daly and is paired with his
usual jockey Mark Bradburne who gets on well with this horse and
could well reverse the form with Tango Royal from the good effort
latest. Ease in the ground will only enhance his chances and a dry
day and night will not do him any favour even though he stays the
trip well. Maybe handicapped up to the hilt given his rivals here
today he is quite exposed as a handicapper even though against
similar types here and is some what better suited to a easier track
then this, but often goes well this time of year.
My rating - 135
3. Tango Royal - Continued
the good recent form of the Pipe yard who have become a force again
with the ammo that they have at Pond House and bounced back to form
last time to beat Briery Fox who he meets on worse terms here today
and while that rival has a better chance of turning around the table
with the old boy, he has quite a fair bit in his favour for another
big run with his listed class form in the book still giving him a
handicapping edge. However he is up against some decent horses
dropping down the weights and being quite near the top of the
handicap he may well struggle to follow up here.
My rating - 134
4. The Bandit - Often gambled
on to win his races and has been a great servant for his current
yard and returns over fences after a spin on comeback run over
hurdles in which he should be much better for. A decent run at
Ludlow back in May Last year over fences in a lesser race then this
off top weight he could well hold a decent chance at the weights if
in that kind of form. However the ground has gone against him and he
may be best waited with until Scottish Grand National day and a
easier race then today as he looks in the grips of the handicapper
at this level. Timmy Murphy is a interesting booking for the horse
but he may want further then this.
My rating - 130
5. Rakalackey - The second
runner for the Daly yard and one that shouldn't be to easily
discounted in the make up of this race with class 2-handicap form to
his name. Weighted up to his best form his recent form with a
cracking run against Naunton Brook back in November stands up well
and was every bit as impressive as his run away win at Market Rasen
in September and could be set for a profitable campaign this summer
in top handicaps. Handles good ground well and has form lines with a
few of these and stays 3M well including trips on a stiff track such
as this and if jumping well should stay on to good effect in the
latter stage of the race and goes right handed much better then left
so is most probably on his best track and this could be a good
indication for the Whitbread gold cup at Sandown later this month.
My Rating - 138
6. Kelrev - Didn't cover
himself in glory in the Racing post plate at the festival and was
well beaten at a track that he goes well at and may be on the down
grade these days having ran well in graded handicaps in the past.
This however is a step down in class and he may have dropped enough
to give it a good shout today given that 3 miles might be a step in
the right direction. The ground is ideal for him and he is always of
interest in races such as this. If he does stay the trip he could
well bounce back to the form here today and if you take his
performance at Cheltenham on New Years day as a pointer in a better
race he could well do himself justice in a handicap such as this.
My rating - 136
7. Cool Roxy - Loves a sharp
track and a gaff track so today does look totally against him as he
steps up from his comfort zone to take on better quality opponents
and from this weight has very little chance. However some of his
hurdles form gives him some sort of chance having finished 2nd to
Flake in a class 2 handicap hurdle recently and might surprise a few
today with a bigger run then his likely odds suggest he is capable
off. However he is well exposed over trip and on good ground and
while there is no expected improvement and the course is stiffer
then he would ideally prefer he isn't a total forlorn hope in the
make up of this race.
My Rating - 132
8. Limited Edition - Carl
Llwelyn hasn't had the best of seasons after making a instant impact
as a trainer the year before and his Limited Edition has the
hallmarks of a horse that has been tried to hard and suffering from
the handicapper not lowering him enough to be pitched in at a easier
class of race and even though connections will be pinning there hope
on him improving over these staying trips, he needs to improve
massively to have a say in a handicap such as this and until proving
his worth at this level he looks best looked over here.
My Rating - 116
9. Out The Black - Has only
completed one of his last three runs and that was well behind the
run away winner Charlies Future who has franked the form since. The
hope with the horse has to be that the ground will play a major
factor in him completing a race over this trip as he has got earlier
form suggesting these are his ideal conditions. Philip Hobbs has had
a strange season and recently has seem;y turned the corner with most
of his horses and out the black goes well this time of the year.
However he has never really shaped with much promise when tackling
this class of opponents and often his jumping doesn't stand up to a
strong test and needs to drop quite a fair bit to have a chance of
landing a race of this quality and looks a fair 10lbs wrong in the
handicap around a stiff track that takes some jumping.
My rating - 115
10. Snoopy Loopy - One of the
lighter raced horses in this race for older handicappers and the
10yo has some solid form in recent months with the race he gave to
Silver Sedge the pick of them last time out and could well run a big
race today with improvement at 10yo not totally out of the question
as he seems to improve with every run over this trip so far. The
handicapper may have had his say with this horse but it wouldn't be
out of the ordinary if he was to overcome the another hike of 5lbs
for 2nd and isn't without a chance despite being 18lbs higher then
his highest chase win mark. Some rain would increase his chances
My rating - 135
11. Model Sun - Was a subject
of a gamble last time out at Uttoxter in the midlands national in
which the run away winner could well land the Scottish national next
week if the ground comes up soft. Beaten quite far by that rival he
isn't without chance in a handicap at this level and from this
weight he could well be regarded as regressive over recent seasons
having gone well in grade 3 handicaps. The ground suits his action
and he has gone well on this better ground in the past and may make
the effort last time better then it looked as the ground was more
testing then ideal. Has gone well on a stiff track in the past and
could be better right handed then left where he has been tried more
in his career. Has a few things to prove, but is getting close to
being handicapped.
My rating - 130
12. Native Coral - Comes into
this race in form and seeking a third straight win over fences and
hurdles even though the two races he has won doesn't compare to this
handicap, he is clearly going the right way and with him needing to
find improvement to win of this mark at this level it isn't against
him finding it as we get to the bottom of the horse ability. Certain
to do better at this level then when last contesting one. That day
two and half years ago he finished in front of Tango Royal but isn't
as well weighted with that rival, as he was that day. However with
an unexposed edge it would be no surprise to see him confirm that
running this much later on. Ground and trip should suit and Brian
Harding has gone well on this straightforward horse in the past so
the now retired Tony Dobbin shouldn't be to badly miss.
My Rating - 137
13. Iris Royal - was a great
servant for Nicky Henderson and the 12yo is still in the same
ownership, as when with that yard, but now he is with a smaller
trainer who could dedicate more time to the horse who has clearly
had his day. Dropped right the way down the handicap since landing
grade 2 chases and could be regarded as well handicapped if ever
finding his old form. The change of yard is unlikely to see a turn
around in his chasing career, but the 5lbs claimer does help him at
the weights and he may be able to run his best race for sometime
over fences with failure to complete on last two starts, return to
the form shown behind Mister apples may have him involved from a low
weight at this level, but he is on the downgrade and isn't one to go
to overboard with those efforts very much in the memory recently.
My rating - 133
Tissue Prices - Rakalackey 5/1, Native Coral 6/1, Kelrev 7/1,
Briery Fox, Snoopy Loopy 8/1, Tango Royal 9/1, El Vaquerro, Iris
Royal 10/1, Cool Roxy 12/1, Model Sun, The Bandit 16/1, Limited
Edition, Out The Black 25/1.
Verdict – A nice handicap for
the older brigade and some proper seasoned handicappers in this race
that Henry Daly should have a strong hand. The first string would
appear to be Briery Fox on the odds in the post and expect him to be
well supported with the Tango Royal pointing to him. However the
stable mate Rakalakey looks to be handicapped to go well and has the
right profile for this race and could well come out on top here.
Native Coral is on the upgrade and respected but may just have to
settle for a minor role, while Kelrev who could benefit for this
step up in trip is another overpriced at the suggested 16-1 in the
post.
Selection –
Rakalakey 2pts
win @ 12-1 (BF16's) + Kelrev 1pt
win @ 11-1 (BF13's)
Well Chief
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