12:15 Ascot

Leg 1 Selections: Beat The Bat, Ideal Des Bordes

After making a highly promising start to his career over hurdles when runner-up at Chepstow last month, Harry Fry’s BEAT THE BAT has every chance of going one better in this contest. IDEAL DES BORDES appeals as the type to do well over hurdles for his top handler, Nicky Henderson, and shaped with promise in a bumper on debut at Warwick when third behind a couple of subsequent winners. He can also be shortlisted in leg 1 of today’s pool.

12:50 Ascot

Leg 2 Selections: The Carpenter, Monviel, Samarrive, Supreme Gift

THE CARPENTER is improving at a rate of knots over hurdles, winning all three starts over hurdles for Nicky Henderson after shaping well when second in his bumper debut when formerly trained in Ireland. He is an exciting prospect for his chase debut. MONVIEL has course-winning form and ran well when second on his chase debut behind JPR One, who was an unlucky last fence faller at Cheltenham last weekend. Paul Nicholls’ SAMARRIVE and SUPREME GIFT also have chances in leg 2, too.

13:25 Ascot

Leg 3 Selections: Inthewaterside, Doddiethegreat

None of the four runners can be ruled out in leg 3, but the top two in Market are the ones to concentrate on from a form perspective. The Paul Nicholls-trained INTHEWATERSIDE is unbeaten in three starts, and while he made hard work of winning his hurdles debut at Aintree, he should improve and can go well. Nicky Henderson’s DODDIETHEGREAT is also unbeaten in three starts and was mightily impressive on hurdles debut at Kempton. He is massively respected

14:00 Ascot

Leg 4 Selections: Your Darling, Mackenburg, Copperhead

Ben Pauling’s YOUR DARLING hasn’t really lived up to expectations, given he was going to be Ben’s Gold Cup horse a few seasons ago. But he has an excellent record when fresh, which reads 1311, and this course and distance winner should be difficult to beat. MACKENBURG did little wrong when narrowly denied at Wetherby on his return last month, and his last win came off a 1Ib higher mark, so therefore Donald McCain’s charge should be competitive. Joe Tizzard’s COPPERHEAD has been winless for a while, but he is on a dangerous mark and could run a big race, carrying a tiny weight, with Freddie Gingell claiming 5Ib. 

14:35 Ascot

Leg 5 Selections: Gin Coco 

The Harry Fry-trained GIN COCO should be all the better for his reappearance at Ffos Las in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, where he travelled well until his lack of a run took its toll. His second in last year’s Greatwood Hurdle is a quality piece of form, and his trainer has been among the winners of late. He should be hard to beat with that latest run under his belt, and he is the banker on the card.

15:10 Ascot

Leg 6 Selections: Emir Sacree, Tea Clipper 

EMIR SACREE has two ways of running, but he is a good horse on his day. He finished third of 12 in a much stronger race at Sandown off a 6Ib higher mark and is 3Ib below his last winning mark. He is applied with refitted cheekpieces, while TEA CLIPPER was in front of him when second at Chepstow last time-out and is 9Ib lower than when midfield in the Bet365 Gold Cup last season. He must have an excellent chance at this level off a really lenient mark.