Betfair Hurdle: punting pointers and trainer quotes as Al Dancer heads hot field

3.20 Ascot
Betfair Hurdle Handicap (Grade 3) | 1m7½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

The race may have been delayed a week and moved from Newbury but the cast remains strong with Nigel Twiston-Davies, who bids for his third win in this race in the last six years, heading the market with Al Dancer.

The trainer looks to have a real Cheltenham Festival hope on his hands and Al Dancer is now tasked with extending his unbeaten record over hurdles to four.

A progressive type in his bumpers last year, Al Dancer completed his hat-trick before Christmas with an 11-length trouncing of Not That Fuisse in a Class 3 handicap at Cheltenham.

As the runner-up that day has since obliged at Taunton, the form has a solid look to it and Al Dancer now races off the 12lb higher mark of 141, the exact same rating that Kalashnikov was on when he won this 12 months ago.

Twiston-Davies said: "This race has been the plan all along for Al Dancer and we're sticking to it despite the race offering less prize-money this time.

"He's an improving sort who's quite versatile and we have no problems with the race being switched. He goes on most ground. We're hopeful."

Gifford happy with venue change

Nick Gifford is more than happy that the race has been rescheduled and switched to Ascot as his Didtheyleaveuoutto is a two-time previous winner at the track.

Owner JP McManus has won this twice in the last nine years, including in 2013 with the classy My Tent Or Yours, and again fields a live hope who is out to bounce back from a modest effort at Kempton last time.

Didtheyleaveuoutto: another potential winner of the Betfair Hurdle for owner JP McManusCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The chestnut got off the mark in easy fashion over hurdles at Fakenham in October before following up at the expense of Thomas Darby over this course and distance the following month.

Gifford said: "We're not disappointed that they've switched the race to Ascot as he's been there twice before and won twice.

"He goes there with a chance but you have to forget his last run at Kempton. This will tell us which race we should be looking towards at Cheltenham."

King fires two bullets

Alan King has not found the key to this race in recent years but fires another two bullets in a bid to break the sequence, including one runner named after the legendary gunfighter Billy The Kid.

The hat-trick-seeking William H Bonney, one of the Kid's aliases, is joined by topweight Lisp, who ran a fine second in a Grade 3 hurdle at the track last time.

William H Bonney: one of two Alan King runnersCredit: Edward Whitaker

King said: "This has long been the plan for Lisp, whose form has been very good. He won at Fontwell despite racing too freely, ran Champion Hurdle contender Global Citizen to half a length at Newbury and then produced a brilliant run for a four-year-old to finish second in the big Ascot handicap before Christmas.

"He's creeping up the weights, but we hope he’ll run well."

He added: "William H Bonney has started to fulfil his early potential, winning twice this winter, and though he's stepping back up in class, I loved the way he jumped and knuckled down to the task in hand at the end when winning at Huntingdon in early December. He deserves a shot at another big pot.”

Nicholls out to Trump the lot

Paul Nicholls fields both Getaway Trump and Mont Des Avaloirs in a race he last won with Zarkandar in 2012.

Getaway Trump has improved rapidly since getting off the mark over hurdles at Plumpton in October and brings Grade 1 form to the table after chasing home Champ in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas.

Getaway Trump (black cap) was a fine second in the Challow last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Now back down in trip, Getaway Trump is joined by stablemate Mont Des Avaloirs who has plenty to find with topweight Lisp on recent Ascot form.

Nicholls said: "Getaway Trump is a progressive sort who should be suited by a big field and a strong pace over this trip. I ran Mont Des Avaloirs back too soon last time and we're taking a handy 5lb off."

What the rest say

Tom Lacey, trainer of Equus Amadeus
He's out of his depth a bit and needs to come down the handicap. The plan is to take him chasing in the long term.

Gary Moore, trainer of Distingo and Ar Mest
If Distingo put his mind to it he would have a chance but he's been disappointing. We could've done with the race being at Newbury as Ar Mest won there last time but he's pretty versatile and has a chance of nicking a place.

David Pipe, trainer of Nordic Combined
He likes big fields and a good pace so we're sticking a visor on him for the first time to sharpen him up. He has an each-way chance at a big price.

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