Luccia number 1 for Nicky Henderson
Fugitif won in a very exciting finish at Cheltenham last Saturday. What a sight to see him come from miles back to power up the stiff Cheltenham Hill and reel in long time leader Il Ridoto!
We switch to hurdles today with a Nicky Henderson mare in the lucky last at Ascot.
Luccia ran really well in the Greatwood hurdle and might just run best of the strong Nicky Henderson team of three runners here. She travelled easily down the hill in the Greatwood at Cheltenham and jumped the last hurdle in second place just ahead of the eventual winner Iberico Lord. The winner has gone up 8lbs in the handicap and I think this race sets up much better for Luccia. She didn’t really see out the final furlong in the Greatwood hurdle over the extended two miles on soft ground.
The goodish ground and half a furlong short of two miles trip is ideal at Ascot. Luccia has won twice when encountering good ground and I think she can finally go and win a big pot having consistently hit the frame in her last four races.
The other Nicky Henderson trained & JP McManus owned pair of Iberico Lord & Impose Toi are obvious dangers even off higher ratings. Willie Mullins runs Onlyamatteroftime who has the ability to win a handicap of this nature but is a risky bet having run out on his latest two runs!
Ascot 3:35
1 point each way Luccia 6/1 generally, 4 places.
Past Results
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