3.35 2m. 69yds. 17 Declared. William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £155,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €87,218.00 2nd - €32,860.00 3rd - €16,446.00 4th - €8,215.00 5th - €4,123.00 6th - €2,062.00 7th - €1,023.00 8th - €527.00
Formscan - A tentative vote goes to FAVOUR AND FORTUNE, who is only 2lb higher than when scoring in a big field on handicap debut at Ayr's Scottish National meeting last April. Runner-up in the Formby last season, Alan King's charge should come on for an inauspicious return run at Ascot and looks primed for this assignment. Not outside the first two in three starts over C&D, including success in the Gerry Feilden, Navajo Indy looks to be a key threat, as well as Secret Squirrel, who had three lengths to spare over the former when scoring at Windsor last month. Related to the high-class Epatante, Joyeuse remains unexposed and open to improvement for last year's winning connections, while Fiercely Proud and Washington cannot be ruled out either.