14.45
GoodHowden Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £56950
- 2m 3f 58y
- Class 1
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
5/1 (Won)
- Win: £5.00
- Place: £2.10
Form: 21224- D
Last run: 255 days
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 140
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 110y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Dual Grade 2 winner last term; finished third at the same level on penultimate start but was behind Kabral Du Mathan and stablemate Jingko Blue in that Cheltenham race; seems set for another bronze medal at best. |
11/1 |
7/2
- Place: £1.90
Form: /1154- CD
Last run: 210 days
W: 11st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 2 |
14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
Won two Grade 2 hurdles; still learning his trade over fences, safe enough apart from one blunder when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good), albeit he made a meal of beating a lower-rated rival; out of depth in Grade 1 here since but he's 10lb lower than his hurdle mark now handicapping and still has potential; cheekpieces on; yard has won two of the last three runnings. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 5 |
18th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 216y Class 2 |
10st 10lb |
Smart staying hurdling who looked as good as ever when ending last season with Grade 2 win from the front at Sandown (2m5f, good); will be very hard to beat on these terms if he jumps adequately on his chasing debut. |
1/5 |
10/1
Form: 525-32
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13th 7 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Two races this autumn (one a 2m4f Grade 2 from The Yellow Clay) were his first wins for ages and he wasn't disgraced on latest outing; third in the 2022 County and fifth in this race last year in his only two handicaps at this meeting, but he's higher in the weights today and is now an 11yo, so can't be the percentage call. |
33/1 |
|
4th 3 |
8th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 5f 180y |
11st 8lb |
Win record has not reflected his ability for much of his career; only one success before this season's victories in a conditions race at Sligo and 2m4f Grade 2 at this venue; needs to bounce back now having been tailed off in the Long Walk at Ascot. |
9/2 |
|
1st 1 |
24th Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 1f 112y |
11st 12lb |
Just one win over hurdles but has been placed plenty of times including in graded races; was fifth in the Coral Cup before a fourth in a Fairyhouse Grade 2; was runner-up in this race last year after a similar absence so has to be respected as the top-rated in the field. |
2/1 |
9/4
Form: /1111- D
Last run: 219 days
W: 10st 10lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 5lb |
Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in this season's Fighting Fifth); could only manage fifth when attempting to retain her crown (9.75l behind Lossiemouth); posted another solid effort in the Aintree Hurdle last time when fourth (2m4f, good to soft); return to 2m should suit, cheekpieces go on and she was second in this contest last year (good) but may need further luck to increase Grade 1 haul. |
8/1 |
|
4th 7 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in the Fighting Fifth) and finished only fifth, behind some of today's rivals, when attempting to retain her crown; largely consistent and has won over 2m4f but increasing her Grade 1 tally may require further luck. |
12/1 |
|
5th 8 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Record of 3-4 at Cheltenham features two Festival wins, beating Brighterdaysahead in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 then admittedly fortuitous (left in lead when State Man took a late fall; odds-on Constitution Hill exited earlier) when 25-1 in this race last year; also had fortune on her side in this season's Fighting Fifth as the front two in the market, including The New Lion, failed to complete; ran creditably on Boxing Day when last seen; largely consistent and should go well but may require further luck to retain her crown. |
8/1 |
4/1
Form: 1P21P- C
Last run: 226 days
W: 11st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 149
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16th 21 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Very talented in his prime; this 10yo isn't the force of old and today's race is much tougher than the hunter chases he's won easily on his last two starts (2m4f, good to soft/good) but if he can tap further into his back-class he may well be in the mix; James King has won this twice. |
16/1 |
|
1st 1 |
23rd Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 5 |
12st 6lb |
Listed winner in his prime and has made a solid start to hunter chasing, namely a close second and easy success at Wincanton; should follow up. |
1/10 |
|
1st 2 |
25th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 4f 35y Class 5 |
12st 6lb |
Powers were on the decline when confined to hurdling last season but he was a classy chaser back in the day and nearly won his first hunter chase over 3m1f here a month ago (heavy); may need that longer trip now but strong claims otherwise. |
Evs |
Non-runners
Salver
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £13.90 |
| Straight Forecast | £16.03 |
| Trifecta | £56.50 |