ASCOT 14:30

All 4 ran. Hurdles: 8.

Time: 3m 49.3s Closing Sectional: (4.95f): 73.6s (98.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 110%, Betfair SP 100.9%

This is usually an informative graded novice, with some good winners on the roll of honour, and this running looks well up to standard, with a promising quartet who'd achieved a good level of form in bumpers lining up, the winner scoring in decisive fashion, perhaps at an advantage in making the running but seeing off the favourite in some style after that rival had moved alongside into the straight, the third shaping with plenty of promise, too.

MASTER DEBONAIR progressed again up in grade, putting up one of the best performances in this division so far this season, the Supreme the obvious target in the spring, though he'd surely be worth an entry in the Betfair Hurdle before then; led, jumped slightly left, ridden straight, mistake 2 out, kept on well, pushed out; open to further improvement and one to keep on the right side.

RIBBLE VALLEY (IRE) was the pick on hurdles form, his Wetherby win showing signs of being a strong race, though he was the lowest rated of these in bumpers and seemed beaten fair and square; tracked pace, took keen hold, smooth headway before 3 out, challenged home turn, pushed along and not quicken, edged right, kept on run-in; it's still early days with him over hurdles and he may yet have more to offer.

TIME FLIES BY (IRE) thrown in at the deep end for his hurdling debut, shaped with a lot of promise, just held back by some novicey jumps, particularly 2 out when still in with a chance; held up, not always fluent, effort after 3 out, closing when mistake next, one paced; will stay beyond 2m; sure to improve over hurdles, perhaps significantly so.

MCFABULOUS (IRE) up in class for his second start over hurdles, hasn't yet matched the level of his form in bumpers (the best of these in that sphere), though he's raced on more testing ground in this sphere, a possibility too that he will need a longer trip to be seen to best advantage, all in all not one to write off just yet; tracked pace, awkward first, mistake 3 out, lost place quickly, plugged on after 2 out.