Committed fans of Modus (3.35) have had a couple of difficult days in the opening months of this jumps season but some kind of recompense may at last be on the immediate horizon. Having run third and then second in valuable contests this autumn, the six-year-old looks the one to be with at 8-1 in the Wessex Youth Trust Handicap Hurdle which closes Ascot’s card on Saturday.
This competitive event, held for years under the Ladbrokes banner, should be run at a strong pace, since there are 19 runners and one of them is Sternrubin, who clung on to dead-heat last year after making almost all the running. That should set things up nicely for Modus, who travelled with tremendous power over this course and distance in October.
He came from too far back that day and did well to finish as close as he did. At Cheltenham last time, there was again one rival who kept going just too well for him to get by.
But that was another career peak from Modus, who still suggests he has more to offer. Barry Geraghty, his owner’s principal jockey, is aboard for the first time this year and I have the impression this race has been in connections’ thoughts since the summer. He comes from the Paul Nicholls stable that has won with its last six runners, including three at Ascot on Friday.
1.50 Ascot It’s just possible that Geraghty is on the wrong JP McManus runner in this handicap chase. He’s aboard In The Rough, whose chance is no more than fair in my eyes, while Join The Clan looks nicely handicapped for this first step outside novice company since he went over fences. He’s only 1lb higher than his last winning mark over hurdles and a strongly run, big-field race may show him to better effect than the small-field contests with which he began his season. He should be an each-way price.
2.25 Ascot The most obvious chance on what could be a big day for McManus is Unowhatimeanharry in the Long Walk Hurdle, which the owner hasn’t won since the days of Baracouda more than a decade ago. He now appears to have a staying hurdler who could rival that one for quality, as Unowhatimeanharry remains unbeaten in six runs since joining Harry Fry. His six-length defeat of Ballyoptic at Newbury leaves little room for doubt that he is the standout talent in this field, with Reve De Sivola in decline at the age of 11.
2.40 Haydock Corrin Wood may have improved for the change of stables and is undoubtedly well handicapped on his best form but he is a surprising favourite. It remains almost three years since he actually won anything, while his jockey has had one winner over fences in the past year. At 9-1, I prefer the claims of Trickaway, who put up a career best on his first start for Malcolm Jefferson last month and may have more to offer at this sort of distance.
3.00 Ascot Another Hero still looks remarkably well treated over fences, considering the ease with which he won at Ludlow in February from just 3lb lower. He fell when half-fancied for the Irish National next time and will have needed his reappearance outing at Chepstow. He’ll make another interesting runner on the day for McManus and Jonjo O’Neill.
3.15 Haydock Things seemed to go wrong for Lettheriverrundry on his second attempt over fences last time, when he was eventually pulled up at Bangor. He’s on a useful mark for this return to hurdles, with first-time cheekpieces to help sharpen him up.
