12:45 Ascot

Leg 1 Selections: Delgany Bobby Blue, Magic Seven

Dan Skelton’s DELGANY BOBBY BLUE made an encouraging start over hurdles, finishing a staying-on third behind Booster Bob. The form has worked out, with the winner scoring again since, and he is interesting on handicap debut over this longer distance. MAGIC SEVEN is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles and has more to come on his handicap debut.

13:20 Ascot

Leg 2 Selections: Welcome To Cartries, Leader In The Park

WELCOME TO CARTRIES was marginally denied on his hurdles/stable debut at this course last month when beaten just a head and could be very hard to beat. LEADER IN THE PARK also ran well when second over C&D on hurdles debut. He is a leading player.

13:55 Ascot

Leg 3 Selections: Authorised Speed, Homme Public, Persian Time

AUTHORISED SPEED has only tasted defeat in Grade 1 races over hurdles, as he’s won all of his other starts and has the size and scope to make an even better chaser. He is a massive player, while recent Cheltenham winner HOMME PUBLIC and Newbury runner-up PERSIAN TIME are others to consider in this small but select field.

14:30 Ascot

Leg 4 Selections: Bad

Ben Pauling’s BAD has improved with each run over hurdles for this stable since finishing midfield in the Boodles on his stable debut at the Cheltenham Festival. He made a classy horse (Hansard) pull out all of the stops at Newbury when last seen and will face no opponent of his calibre in this field. He is strongly fancied to get his head in front.

15:05 Ascot

Leg 5 Selections: Unexpected Party, Djelo, Kandoo Kid, Might I

UNEXPECTED PARTY has C&D winning form and has been highly tried over fences, so he’s feared at this level. DJELO is unbeaten in two starts over fences and is feared most. While the other two last-time-out winners, KANDOO KID and MIGHT I cannot be ruled out either, Harry Fry’s seven-year-old has a really good chance.

15:40 Ascot

Leg 6 Selections: Captain Bellamy, Brechin Castle, Celtic Dino

The Paul Nicholls-trained CAPTAIN BELLAMY won very easily on his rules debut in a bumper at Chepstow and is well worth his place in this deeper contest. BRECHIN CASTLE retained his unbeaten record when scoring impressively at Cheltenham last time out and should go well under his penalty. CELTIC DINO impressed on debut over C&D and is another to include.