Massagot The Winner At Ascot

There has been plenty of interest in Harry Fry’s Jolly’s Cracked It (9/2) since betting opened for The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle over 2m at Ascot on Saturday (3.35pm).

Jolly The Favourite
Third in a similar handicap over C&D last month, this 6yo showed plenty of guts in keeping on well to the line, beaten only a nose by the second, Unanimite (16/1). Considering that was his reappearance, he could improve on Saturday, though he is without a victory in five outings, unlike the majority of past Ladbroke winners…

Ladbroke Trends
Of the last 10 winners…
10 won a maximum of two handicap hurdles
9 were officially rated 127-144
9 raced a maximum of twice during last 90 days
9 were non-favourites
9 made the top three last time
8 were 5-7yo’s
8 won during their last three runs
N Henderson and G Elliott both won it twice apiece

Massagot The Ascot Winner
One who does have recent winning form is Alan King’s Winner Massagot (9/2) who was also in action here last month in landing a decent handicap by over 2l.

The manner in which he went clear in the mud that day will put him in good stead for the weekend, and he is definitely an improver to respect.

Young Improvers
Similar comments apply to Philip Hobbs’ 4yo, Sternrubin (12/1), who won both outings this season. The second of those came when making all the running to land a valuable handicap at Newbury last month (2m, soft), and his uncomplicated style could make him hard to peg back.

Another 4yo of interest is Dan Skelton’s Zarib (12/1) an improver who returned with a 7l third to Irving in a Grade 2 at Wincanton (2m, soft) last month. He races from a 1lb lower mark here and rates good each-way value.

Irish To Raid Pot?
The Irish challenge meanwhile, is led by Willie Mullins’ 6yo, Renneti (10/1), who caught the eye on his return in a similar handicap at Cheltenham last month, staying on to good effect into fourth behind Old Guard. Having also finished strongly into fourth in Newmarket’s Cesarewitch on the Flat (2m2f), he obviously likes these big handicaps. Mullins also has Noble Inn (20/1), but Renneti is the pick of them.

Ireland will also be represented by Edward Harty’s 6yo, Sort It Out (12/1), who has not been seen since landing a valuable handicap hurdle at Punchestown in May (2m2f, soft). That win came off the back of a cracking second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and he is another with the right ”big-race profile” for this.

Noel Meade will also be having a crack with his 6yo, Waxies Dargle (12/1), who was over 1l ahead of Renneti at Cheltenham last month, and previously won a valuable handicap at Killarney in May (2m1f, soft).

Recommended Bets
Plenty in with chances, including Sort It Out, but Alan King’s Winner Massagot impressed over Saturday’s C&D last time and still looks ahead of the handicapper.

*Prices correct at time of publication