Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle |
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| Grade 3, Ascot 15:35 £125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 152y, Class 1  |
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The race is shaping up to be a highly competitive race with several top contenders. One of the standout entries is Dysart Enos, trained by Fergal O’Brien. Dysart Enos, a Grade Two bumper winner, looked every inch a top-class prospect in winning her first three starts over hurdles last season. However, a minor setback caused her to miss the Cheltenham Festival and she also sidestepped Aintree in the spring due to unsuitable ground. After a 10-month break, she reappeared in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in mid-November, finishing third behind Burdett Road and Be Aware. O’Brien is optimistic about her chances, stating, “She’s in great form, very happy with her.”
Jockey Jonathan Burke, who partnered Dysart Enos for the first time in the Greatwood Hurdle, plans to give his mount more cover and ride her more conservatively on Saturday. O’Brien believes that Burke’s familiarity with Dysart Enos is a major advantage.
🏆 Favour And Fortune wins the @Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle
— Ayr Racecourse (@ayrracecourse) April 20, 2024
Last seen finishing sixth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Alan King's charge fends off the late challenge from Bialystok to land the Grade Two prize! 👏@tomcannon2 pic.twitter.com/c6yIrdTRMQ
Another notable contender is Favour And Fortune, making his first competitive appearance since winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April. Trainer Alan King is hopeful for a positive comeback, stating, “He worked very well on Wednesday morning.”
Olly Murphy is hoping for rain to give his Greatwood Hurdle ninth Go Dante the best possible chance. Murphy said, “If there was rain he’d have a chance, if there’s not rain I’d be slightly concerned.”
Paul Nicholls saddles Kabral Du Mathan, who won his only start in France and is two from two since arriving in Britain. Nicholls told Betfair, “He’s unbeaten over hurdles and although he was raised 8lbs after Kempton I feel he has a lovely chance provided they do not get much rain.”
Cian Collins’ Impero, leading the charge as he bids for a four-timer, has shown remarkable improvement since switching to Collins' yard in September, making an impressive start to his National Hunt career.
Impero's debut for Collins saw him finish second in a Listowel handicap hurdle. He then claimed his first victory at the 19th attempt in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick, pulling clear in the final furlong to win by seven lengths. This was followed by a win at Cheltenham, where he narrowly defeated Norman Fletcher under Danny Gilligan. Most recently, he completed his hat-trick at Musselburgh, defying a 6lb rise and winning by seven lengths.
Collins is confident about Impero's chances despite the step up in grade. "He seems in good form and he’s an improving horse so hopefully he can be competitive in that race on Saturday. It is a step up in grade for him, but I don’t think he can have been any more impressive at Musselburgh and a strong gallop would suit him," said Collins.
The Ladbrokes Hurdle, returning as part of the Howden Christmas Racing Weekend, is one of the most valuable handicap hurdles in the calendar with a prize fund of £125,000. Previous winners of the race include notable horses like Tamarinbleu, Cause Of Causes, Brain Power, and Not So Sleepy.
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle
£125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 152y, Class 1
12 runners
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 123-21 Steel Ally 6 12-0 Sam Thomas Dylan Johnston
2 12261- Favour And Fortune 6 11-12 Alan King Tom Cannon
4 1222-2 Be Aware 5 11-8 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
5 13-613 Our Champ 6 11-8 Chris Gordon Freddie Gordon
6 4/15-0 Tritonic 7 11-6 Alan King Tom Bellamy
7 /111-3 Dysart Enos 6 11-6 Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke
8 315-59 Go Dante 8 11-3 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen
9 11-1 Kabral Du Mathan 4 11-2 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
10 327-F6 Fiercely Proud 5 10-13 Ben Pauling Kielan Woods
11 0/2111 Impero 5 10-12 Cian Collins Danny Gilligan
12 2215-3 Secret Squirrel 5 10-11 Hughie Morrison David Bass
13 11P-32 Black Hawk Eagle 6 10-7 Kerry Lee Liam Harrison
NR Kihavah 7 11-10 Adrian Paul Keatley NON RUNNER
LADBROKE HANDICAP HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR (1987-2023)
Run at Sandown in 2005 (January 7, 2006) and in 2004 (January 8, 2005); run at Leopardstown in January up to & including 2000.
Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2012 CAUSE OF CAUSES 4-10-03 JP McManus, Gordon Elliot,t DJ Condon 25/1
2011 RAYA STAR 5-10-01 Simon Munir A King W Hutchinson 12/1
2010 Abandoned due to frost
2009 Abandoned due to snow
2008 SENTRY DUTY 6-11-09 Peter Spiller Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 12/1
2007 JACK THE GIANT 5-11-00 Hanbury Syndicate Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 9/4F
2006 ACAMBO 5-11-09 David Johnson David Pipe Timmy Murphy 7/1
2005 DESERT AIR 7-10-09 Belinda Harvey Martin Pipe Tom Scudamore 25/1
2004 TAMARINBLEU 5-10-11 Arthur White Partnership Martin Pipe Tony McCoy 14/1
2003 THESIS 5-11-02 1961 Partnership Venetia Williams Brian Crowley 33/1
2002 CHAUVINIST 7-10-00 Bunny & Nick Roberts Nicky Henderson Norman Williamson 15/2
2001 MARBLE ARCH 5-10-11 Martin & Mary Wilson Rory SweetHughie Morrison Norman Williamson 7/1
2000 MANTLES PRINCE 6-9-12 R J McSharry Pat Hughes IRE Fran Berry 12/1
1999 ARCHIVE FOOTAGE 7-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld IRE David Evans 25/1
1998 GRAPHIC EQUALISER 6-10-00 BRASK Syndicate Arthur Moore IRE Conor O’Dwyer 5/1F
1997 MASTER TRIBE 7-10-04 Jebel Ali Racing Stables Jenny Pitman Norman Williamson 18/1
1996 DANCE BEAT 5-9-12 Mrs E Queally Jessica Harrington IRE Anthony Powell 12/1
1995 ANUSHA 5-10-02 G A Hoggard Michael Hourigan IRE Shane Broderick 25/1
1994 ATONE 7-10-08 Robert Sinclair Bunny Cox IRE Kevin O’Brien 10/1
1993 GLENCLOUD 5-10-13 D Tierney Noel Meade IRE Gerry O’Neill 20/1
1992 HOW’S THE BOSS 6-10-02 Edward Farrell John Brassill IRE Jason Titley 20/1
1991 THE ILLIAD 10-10-13 Elizabeth Furlong Andy Geraghty IRE Pat McWilliams 7/1
1990 REDUNDANT PAL 7-11-05 P S O’Neill Paddy Mullins IRE Conor O’Dwyer 20/1
1989 REDUNDANT PAL 6-10-00 P S O’Neill Paddy Mullins IRE P Kavanagh 16/1
1988 ROARK 6-11-01 P Leeper Arthur Moore IRE Tom Taaffe 5/1
1987 BARNBROOK AGAIN 6-11-08 Mel Davies David Elsworth Colin Brown 5/2F
