'It was a disaster' - can Grade 2 runner-up Fiercely Proud make amends for Cheltenham mishap in Ascot handicap hurdle?

Fiercely Proud, 6-4 favourite for a Cheltenham conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle last Friday before getting loose on the way to the start and being withdrawn, has also been well backed ahead of this much deeper event.

There is a general suspicion that a mark of 129 may underestimate a five-year-old, who was twice placed in Grade 2 novice hurdles last season.

Fiercely Proud unseated Callum Pritchard prior to his intended reappearance but Ben Pauling’s stable jockey Ben Jones takes the ride here.

“It was a disaster what happened on the way to the start at Cheltenham,” said the trainer. “However, he is none the worse for those exertions and worked well on Tuesday. Ground, trip and track will suit, and he’s in good order.”

“I think he’s off a workable mark,” he added. “Many of the novices he was surrounded by last year, horses like Lump Sum and Steel Ally, have already won or run well in handicaps this season.”

What they say

Chris Gordon, trainer of Our Champ
There’s not much room in his handicap mark. He’s not the biggest horse so carrying top weight in a decent race makes it even harder. He’ll like the ground.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Stream Of Stars
He’s in great form and has done nothing wrong in his last two starts. The owners have been very patient with him and if he can keep improving that would be lovely.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Break My Soul
She’s a very smart mare who will be jumping fences one day. I wanted to run her last week but she wasn’t quite ready. I do still think she’ll come on for this outing, but we like her and she’s very capable.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Afadil and Fire Flyer
Afadil always needs his first run and did so at Chepstow three weeks ago. He looks a big each-way price considering he won the Scottish County Hurdle and finished fifth in the County Hurdle. I’ve always liked Fire Flyer, who was a work in progress last season. He had a wind op over the summer and I’d like to think he is up to winning a handicap hurdle. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ran very well before going chasing.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Secret Squirrel
It’s a good place to start him off. He’s enjoyed a nice holiday and hopefully we’ll have some fun in two-mile handicap hurdles with him this season.

Suzy Smith, trainer of Tapley
He did it well at Plumpton. The opposition is hotter this time and he’s up 6lb, but Elizabeth Gale takes off 7lb so he’s actually 1lb better off. He likes a decent surface and the track will suit. He’s very good in faster-run races as he possesses a high cruising speed. I’m very hopeful.

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