Andy Holding gives his opinions on today's stacked card at Ascot.
12.20 Mitie Events & Leisure Novices' Hurdle
POLYDORA may have been an unconsidered 25-1 poke when winning on hurdling debut at Chepstow last month, but there appeared nothing fluky about the performance and with the runner-up and fourth going on to back up that view when fighting out the finish of a similar race at Wincanton on Thursday, Tom Lacey’s inmate surely has a better chance than his morning odds imply. Not only that, his winning time also backed up the visually impression of the display and with today’s extra yardage seen as another positive, the son of Milan is certainly good enough to make his presence felt despite what the market says.
12.55 BAM Construct UK Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)
Lough Derg Farmer has always had to look of a potentially useful chaser in the making and he may turn out to be a cut above the rest, but preference is for the experienced REMIND ME LATER, whose Worcester success a month ago has worked out incredible well. Although we had to wait until his seventh start until he finally broke his duck over fences, Gary Moore’s charge did it the style of a really progressive sort and with the likes of Rolling Dylan, Fortunate George and Sparkling River all going on to endorse the form in recent weeks (all won), the race looks a totally believable one. Moreover, the time figure also suggested the son of Zerpour ran to a pretty high standard that day and hailing from a stable that are always to be feared at today’s venue, the eight-year-old rates the percentage call.
13.30 Trisoft Mares' Handicap Hurdle
A wide open mares’ only handicap where you can make a case out for practically all the field, but providing there’s no major fitness issues regarding RIVER ARROW, she should give a good account. A winner on testing ground at Southwell in March, Tom Symonds’ inmate went on to run an absolute blinder when third in the Mares’ Final at Newbury a little later in the same month and that easily represents the best singular piece of form going in the 10-strong field. Of the rest, On Demand is fairly reliable in these sort of events, while Carnspindle, who was below-par on her seasonal return, hails from a stable whose runners are improving significantly from their first outings of the campaign.
14.05 Christy 1965 Chase (Grade 2)
Although last of three on seasonal return, TOP NOTCH still makes plenty of appeal on account of his top-class form over fences as a novice. Four victories – including the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown – meant that Nicky Henderson’s inmate was sent off a warm second favourite for the JLT Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and if it wasn’t for a bad blunder when going well at the second last, he may have proven too good for the eventual winner Yorkhill. Other than Royal Regatta, the Poliglote gelding is the only C&D winner in the field and with the race likely to be run at a strong pace, the classy six-year-old will be in his element.
14.40 Coral Hurdle (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (Grade 2)
Defi Du Seuil is easily the most intriguing runner on the card being the undisputed king of the juvenile division last season and it will be interesting to see whether he can buck the trend of five-year-old’s and become a viable Champion Hurdle candidate next year. The only slight drawback with today’s assignment comes from the notion that he might take a little bit of a grip due to his freshness after a layoff and that nagging doubt is enough to prevent Philip Hobbs’ inmate being a confident bet at the prices. One could also argue that L’AMI SERGE’s French Champion Hurdle win entitles him to be a good deal shorter in the market based on pure form and he rates the percentage call. Called one or two rude names in the past due to his inability to find as much off the bridle, the King’s Theatre gelding appears to reformed character of late, and with his record of going well fresh in the past another significant factor, the classy six-year-old looks primed to go well.
15.15 Shawbrook Handicap Chase
Sire De Grugy will be a popular winner and while he should be all the better for his pipe-opener over hurdles at Ffos Las recently, but preference is for the ultra-consistent SAN BENEDETO. A proper money-spinner over fences last season, winning four on the trot in mid-winter, Paul Nichols’ inmate has done nothing wrong on his two starts so far this term and given that he was the only one capable of offering any resistance to stable mate Politologue in the Haldon Gold Cup last time out, a repeat of the level of performance should see him bang on the premises once again.
15.50 Elite AV Standard Open NH Flat Race
NESTOR PARK was a very warm order on his debut at Bangor 25 days ago and although he failed in his bid to justify his position in the market, he still ran a race full of promise all the same. A proper chasing type with a big, raking stride, the slow gallop at the Welsh venue probably didn’t play into his strengths and today’s more expansive spaces and stiffer test should turn out to be more relative to his requirements.
