Boothill

Boothill kept on really well to win the two-mile-one-furlong handicap chase at Ascot on Saturday. Johnny Burke was happy to settle him in behind, and his jumping was good in the main, but it didn’t look likely when he was back in behind horses on the run towards the home turn. He travelled well into the home straight though, he made his ground among horses at the second last and, taken to the outside on the run to the last, he jumped that really well and set up a race-winning advantage. He idled on the run-in, he probably won with more in hand than the bare winning margin.

Harry Fry’s horse was a high-class two-mile novice chaser last season, he finished second behind Jonbon in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Chase and he won the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Chase. He always shaped over two miles as if he would appreciate going further, but it appeared as if he didn’t get home over an extended two and a half miles in the Pendil Chase at Kempton in February. He didn’t run after that last season, but he goes well fresh, and he put up one of the best performances of his career on Saturday. This extended, stiff, two miles suits him well, ideally off a fast pace, and he does go well at Ascot. He is two for two over fences there. The handicapper raised him by 6lb to a mark of 155, but he could still be better than that rating. He holds an entry in another valuable contest over Saturday’s course and distance, back at Ascot in three weeks’ time, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that.

Ascot, 4^th November 2023