UK Horse Racing Tips: Ascot

Goodwin and Mount Anglesby both arrive here in winning form and are taken seriously, but the eye is immediately drawn to EL GALACTICO's unexposed profile and there is good reason to side with Neil Mulholland's charge. It was only a four-runner race at Plumpton, but it takes a nice horse to win a novice hurdle under a penalty and he did it really comfortably, proving his versatility trip-wise in the process. He now goes handicapping off 121 and that mark may underestimate the five-year-old.
Prediction : 1st El Galactico 2nd Goodwin 3rd Mount Anglesby

Crystal Island impressively won a point-to-point in Ireland and now debuts under Rules for the powerful Nicky Henderson yard, so must be taken seriously. Big Ticket and Off The Jury aren't out of this either but the verdict is for GAELIC PRIDE, who has finished runner-up in maiden hurdles at Fontwell and Cheltenham. That latest piece of form at the November fixture reads well and he's the one to beat.
Prediction : 1st Gaelic Pride 2nd Crystal Island 3rd Big Ticket

Stencil finished second in a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham last season, but will need to improve on his fencing bow at the same track last month. Harry Cobden keeps the ride, though, and he's fitted with a first-time hood so could step up. Vanderpoel is another to be interested in, but EXCELERO can edge a tight contest while his impressive jumping display at Warwick remains fresh in the memory.
Prediction : 1st Excelero 2nd Stencil 3rd Vanderpoel

TASHAN showed the benefit of his seasonal debut at Chepstow when he got back to winning ways with a tenacious effort at Exeter. With the promise of more to come, this could be within the reach of Emma Lavelle's progressive four-year-old. There are dangers aplenty, however, and the likes of The Hardest Geezer and the returning Let It Rain, along with fellow last-time-out winners Non Stop and He's A Latchico, all have plenty to offer in a wide-open event.
Prediction : 1st Tashan 2nd The Hardest Geezer 3rd Let It Rain

The winner of three of his six outings over hurdles, NO QUESTIONS ASKED has made a promising start over the larger obstacles. He won over C&D on last month's chasing bow prior to finishing a highly creditable second in Grade 2 company at Newbury and there looks plenty more to come from Ben Pauling's charge. Steel Ally is another smart recruit to the chasing ranks having scored nicely at Carlisle, while Kempton winner Jax Junior may prove the pick of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st No Questions Asked 2nd Steel Ally 3rd Jax Junior

The winner of an Irish point-to-point, BASS HUNTER made an impressive debut under Rules when beating a subsequent hurdles winner by eight lengths at Newbury. Chris Gordon's charge looks to have a bright future on that evidence and is taken to edge a competitive affair. Black Eddy has switched yards since landing a Chepstow bumper on debut and he can feature, while Sea The Day is preferred of Dan Skelton's three runners. Sappingirl and No Way Jay are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Bass Hunter 2nd Black Eddy 3rd Sea The Day