Ascot Hurdle

Grade 2, Ascot 14:45
(registered as The Ascot Hurdle),
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
2m 3f 58y, Class 1  
Saturday 23rd November 2024

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Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Golden Ace is one of 10 entries.

Trainer Jeremy Scott is exploring several options for his high-class mare, Golden Ace. The six-year-old boasts a perfect record over hurdles, having won all four of her starts last season.

Golden Ace holds an entry here, with the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Gerry Feilden at Newbury also in consideration. Scott commented, “The race at Ascot is two-three, but we could also go for Newcastle or the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, which might be better timing-wise for her fitness. However, ground conditions are a factor. It seems to be drying up a bit after this week, and Newcastle isn’t getting the rain we’re seeing down south, so we’re leaning towards Newbury or Ascot.”

“She’s in very good order, despite a hiccup in training with a pulled muscle, which means we haven’t had a clean run to get here today. We hoped to have run her three weeks ago. Most horses need a run to get going, and she may be the same. Ideally, we’d have another week, but if the ground conditions are right and she’s fresh, we’d likely give Ascot a go.”

All four of Golden Ace’s hurdle wins have come under Scott’s stable jockey, Lorcan Williams, a partnership Scott believes has been key to her success. “They’re a great combination, and he does a brilliant job of keeping her calm,” he said. “It’s going to be much tougher now as we compete against more experienced horses, so we’ll see how we measure up.”

Looking ahead to the Cheltenham Festival, Scott is leaning towards the Mares’ Hurdle for Golden Ace. “At the moment, the mares' race seems most likely. We’ve won over two and a half miles as well as two miles. It’ll be interesting to experiment with different distances over the next few months, but historically, the mares' race is weaker, so that’s probably where we’ll aim.”

QuinnBet

Ascot Hurdle (registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 58y, Class 1
10 entries
Going: Good

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 /1154- Blueking d'Oroux 5 - Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
2 61P5-0 Botox Has 8 - 2 Gary & Josh Moore
3 525-32 Colonel Mustard 9 - Mrs Lorna Fowler
4 /1111- Golden Ace 6 - Jeremy Scott Lorcan Williams
5 11222- Jango Baie 5 - Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
6 21224- Lucky Place 5 - Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
7 1336-6 Pembroke 7 - Dan Skelton
8 11113- Salver 4 - Gary & Josh Moore
9 1-1431 Take No Chances 6 - Dan Skelton
10 1P21P- Thunder Rock 8 - Olly Murphy