Progressive Hurdler Ready To Win Again

Hobbs Gelding Has Conditions For Successful Step-Up In Class

The Rewarding Ownership With The ROA Handicap Hurdle at Ascot this afternoon looks an ideal race for punters to get their teeth into, with a distance that tests speed and jumping ability, ground that isn’t stamina sapping and horses that are out to get the prize.

RED FORCE ONE, from the Nicholls yard, has been backed into favourite and there are clear reasons for that.

A decent flat handicapper for Tom Dascombe on the flat, he has become a better hurdler and put in his best performance three weeks ago when going close here in a Listed handicap over today’s distance.

He went down by just a neck to Gumball but is up 4lb and has had two wind operations.

OAKLEY looks a better bet.

Lightly raced with just seven runs he is clearly progressive and finished off last season with hurdle wins at Kempton and Ludlow.

His third to Benny’s Bridge at Cheltenham last month was his best performance to date and he ran on in determined style up the hill after being tapped for speed after two out.

That was his first run for nine months and trainer Hobbs is in fine form with 11 wins from his last 51 runners.

Ben Jones (25 wins at 15%) takes the ride and he and Hobbs are one from two at Ascot.

SPEED COMPANY has been backed into 7/2 and has won or been placed in 10 of the 13 races he has had since going to Ian Williams 14 months ago.

He was a convincing winner at Chepstow last month, wearing a tongue-tie for just the second time.

It is on again today and he may still be well treated despite a 9lb rise.

At 6/1 Oakley might be the most progressive in the field and take this before going on to even better things.

G Lees

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