Ascot
1.00
Dual point to point winner Simonsig went on to win the Champion point to point bumper at Fairyhouse in April and is regarded as a very bright prospect. He seems to be at home on any ground.
1.35 No Secrets won on heavy ground at Folkestone last season and was second under a penalty to a useful horse trained by Paul Nicholls. Although last of the finishers in the Albert Bartlett he didn’t run that badly and he is the type to make a chaser. A relentless galloper he appreciates some cut in the ground so may not have his ideal conditions. A winning hurdler in France Solix was 5th in the Coral Cup he should be a useful recruit to the novice chasing ranks.
2.10 Cinders and Ashes has some very useful bumper form. He won twice from 5 starts and finished 5th in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Tindaro, a dual winner on the flat in France shaped with promise when 3rd over hurdles at Wetherby last month.
3.20 Cois Farraig won a Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury last season. On his return this term he unseated at the first fence at Carlisle. He doesn’t look harshly treated off a mark of 128. Ballycarney was a progressive chaser last season winning 3 times. He should be all the better for a recent run at Wincanton and will go on ground.
3.55 Featherbed Lane is probably not one of the starts of his stable but he did win over hurdles last season at Leicester and should be up to winning over fences in due course. His win at Leicester came on heavy ground. Pantxoa finished strongly in second at Sandown earlier in the month and a repeat of that performance would put him in with a good chance in this.
Haydock
12.50 Desert Cry has fair form on the flat in France he won at Sedgefield over hurdles last season. He tends to be keen and doesn’t always get home in his races.
1.55 Ackertac won twice over hurdles last season but was pulled up on his chase debut when the saddle slipped. Ran well enough last time when 2nd of 3 at Ascot. Tornado Bob won a Cork bumper and went on to score twice over hurdles before being narrowly beaten at Ascot. He has always been regarded as a chaser in the making.
2.30 There are only 5 runners in this but none can be safely ruled out. We have 3 runners from the flat making their hurdles debut, a recent winner form the all conquering Paul Nicholls yard and one from the Henderson stable with a win under his belt already this month. Our Joe Mac rated 101 on the flat won a competitive York handicap and if he stays and jumps could go well over timber. On the flat he was at his bet with cut in the ground. War Poet won twice over 12 furlongs at Thirsk while Butler was a winner at Ripon over 10 furlongs. Plenty Pocket won at Kempton last month but I prefer Molotof who was a very impressive winner at Wincanton last time.
3.05 Super Duty won well, at Carlisle on his hurdles debut after taking a bumper at Bangor last season.
3.40 Runner up at Fontwell last month Eligible can go one better here.
Nap of the day
Molotof
Dark horse
Cois Farraig
From the archives
There are a couple of important hurdle races over the weekend. The Ascot Hurdle and the Morgiana at Punchestown. Hardy Eustace (Pictured below) won both these events during his career.
Picture courtesy of the artist Sarah Aspinall
He was a surprise winner at Punchestown in 2008 coming in at 14/1 in a 4 runner race with Sizing Europe 2nd. This was actually the last win of his career. He won the Ascot race in 2007 and 2008. He won 14 times in all in an illustrious career taking the Champion Hurdle twice.
Turf trivia
Wyndburgh holds a unique record. He is the only horse to have finished 2nd in the Grand National 3 times without also winning the race. He ran in the National 6 times in all and was runner up in 1957, 1958 and 1962.
ahorse 