14:05 Ascot

With no weight on his back, DUKE OF DECEPTION should be spot on in terms of fitness after a spin over hurdles and remains unexposed over marathon trips, having finished a close-up second on both previous starts over 3m5f+.

The seven-year-old ran a huge race when second under a big weight in the Highland National on his penultimate outing at Perth and probably would have won with a better jump at the final two fences, and he’s only 3lb higher in this race. 

Duke Of Deception, 0.5 pts E/W, 9/1 generally

14:10 Punchestown

The Willie Mullins-trained STATE MAN can complete a hat trick of wins in the Morgiana Hurdle. The seven-year-old has only tasted defeat once in all completed starts over hurdles that came at the hands of Constitution Hill. 

The Champion Hurdle winner is up against stable companion Lossiemouth, but even with the weight the latter gets, I still can’t see her being good enough to beat the two-time winner of this contest. He can make another winning return to action with another season awaiting Willie Mullins’ leading two-mile hurdler.

State Man, 2pts WIN, 4/5 generally

15:20 Ascot

Sans Bruit, 1pt WIN, 5/1 generally

SANS BRUIT likes to go forward, and he will ensure there is no hiding place in this contest with fitness on his side having shaped promisingly when third in the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup on his return earlier this month.

Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old dominated a good renewal of the Red Rum Handicap at Aintree last season, and although he’s 11lb higher back in handicap company, I can see him proving a tough nut to crack under Harry Cobden.