Ascot

Byrne Group Handicap Chase:

A 2m 192y Handicap Chase is our first race that we are going to have a look at with last years winner Ulck Du Lin back for more. After winning this early season race he had to wait until his last race of the season at Wincanton before winning again and this means he comes here off a 15lb higher mark and even with his 7lb claimer taking 7lb off the talented Sean Bowen did exactly the same last year meaning he is running off a 15lb higher mark. The eyecatching name in the race is that of Sgt Reckless who ran in the Arkle last year and finished a decent 6th behind the easy winner Un De Sceaux. An easy win at Carlisle followed before a moderate run back on the flat at Yarmouth. This Yarmouth outing however means he should be fitter than some of his rivals who are coming back off layoffs ranging from 105 days to 235 days. Another horse back for more this year is Bellenos who finished 4th last year off a mark 140, this year he is down to 133 and with this 22lb swing with Ulck Du Lin you have to think the distance between them will be much closer. The talented but frustrating Baby Mix is also in contention here, having only his 5th run since coming back from a lay off he will be looking to go 1 better than his 3 most recent 2nd place finishes. Having been running over further he is surely going to stay this 2m distance and with Ulck Du Lin possibly going to try and make all again the race may be run to suit, that said despite winning any of his last 4 runs he has risen from a low of 133 to a high now of 142. Pearls Legend, Royal Regatta and Minella Definitely all have what it takes to get involved here and this looks a tricky race to find the winner. Being that he may have a touch of class about him and his most recent run to get him potentially fitter than his rivals Sgt Reckless may be the one to side with.

William Hill Handicap Hurdle:

This just shy of 2m Handicap hurdle was won last year by Sign of A Victory who won it in very impressive fashion and followed this up by taking on the likes of Faugheen and Blue Heron before finishing a good short head 2nd to Cheltenian giving him 1lb. Winning this race last year off a mark of 139, he returns this year off a career high mark of 153 and it may just be that he is vulnerable to something a bit better handicapped. That horse may well be Nabucco, a 109 horse at his peak on the flat he has taken to hurdling well. Despite being turned over on hurdles debut that form has been franked with the winner since going close in a Grade 2 race at Chepstow. Since this defeat Nabucco has had 2 more races over hurdles and won both very easily. His initial mark of 132 looks workable and if he is as good as his flat form then he still has improvement to come. Both John Ferguson and Nicky Henderson have their horses running well although the former does also like to target these handicaps at Ascot with the likes of Pine Creek winning big races here. Cloonacool has continued to improve for Stuart Edmunds and he can’t be underestimated. His most recent win at Market Rasen was a very good effort and he has only been raised 4lb. With both he and Nabucco fit from recent runs it would take a very good weight carrying performance from Sign of a Victory to retain his title. Closest Friend, Unanimite and Jollys Cracked It (who I know was a few peoples handicap good thing last Cheltenham) all have chances but none looks as progressive as Nabucco and he would be the one we would side with.

Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase:

Another early season big handicap at Ascot and another returning champion with in fact the last 2 winners of this race running in What A Warrior and Houblon Des Obeaux. What a Warrior was off a mark of 135 when winning this race and after 2 subsequent disappointing runs in the Hennessy and Festival Handicap Chase at Cheltenham he returns here off just a 5lb higher mark. He nigh on made all the running last year when just holding off Black Thunder. Having made all the running last year he may be able to follow suit again as he and the runner up did pull clear. When Houblon Des Obeaux won this back in 2013 he was running off a mark of just 144 and now rated 159 he looks to have it all to do against some potentially well handicapped horses. His form however is very strong and he may possess that touch of class that others lack here. Virak is a 2nd season chaser and after winning 3 times including a Grade 2 at Doncaster he was entered in the Kauto Star Novices at Kempton where he was firmly put in his place by subsequent Gold Cup winner Coneygree. Coneygree may well have taken him out of his comfort zone and his jumping wasn’t as fluent as it had been in his 3 earlier wins, he eventually tired back to 3rd despite looking all over 2nd turning in. Another disappointing run came at Ascot when only 3rd in a 4 runner race although he was then switched to handicaps and duly won off top weight rated 144. He always looked like winning that day and despite a raise of 10lb he still should run a good race. Le Reve had a great season last year finishing 2nd in the Betbright Chase at Kempton and a 3rd in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, this was after a 3rd place finish at Ascot behind The Young Master and Houblon Des Obeaux who he is 12lb worse off at the weights. It may be that he has future targets down the line. The lightly campaigned Ned Stark and Leo Luna also have big chances in a race that could be a great race to watch. What A Warrior has been forecast to be a huge 25/1 and off just a 5lb higher mark then this looks very overpriced.
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Wetherby:

Bet365 Yorkshire Hurdle:

Rock On Ruby is stepped up to 3m for the first time in his career and this former Champion Hurdler needs to prove his stamina in what looks an otherwise a winnable 3m race. His form is very strong and his 2nd to Jezki at Aintree was a good run. Now getting older he may stay this trip and if he does then he should take all the beating. One of his chief rivals would be the consistent and improving Aqalim. Aqalim finished 5th in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham before winning on his return to Cheltenham in April when winning easily. Stepped up to Listed company he finished a ¾ length 2nd to the 155 rated Polly Peachum . Aqalim has been given a mark of 152 which means Listed and Graded races are now what he can run in. Aqalim has proven his stamina over this distance and could well capitalise if Rock on Ruby gets tired late on. The interesting runner in the race is Grumeti who is also stepped up to 3m for the first time over hurdles. A former champion hurdle hopeful he proved himself in good form when winning the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on the flat earlier this month. This 3m trip should suit and with fitness guaranteed he may well run a big race. That said he has always been well beaten by Rock on Ruby in the past and if they both stay this 3m trip then it would be a surprise if Grumeti beat Rock on Ruby. Grand National hopeful and Festival Handicap Chase winner The Druids Nephew is also allowed to take his chance here, despite a mark of 139 over hurdles he is better than that as he proved when running against the likes of Saphir Du Rheu, Un Temps Pour Tout and Reve De Sivola. A return trip to Newbury in the Hennessy looks on the cards as this run should sharpen him up whilst not affecting his handicap mark over fences.

Olbg Mares Hurdle

The first of the Mares hurdles takes place and this looks to be a great opportunity for talented mare Ma Filleule. Ma Filleule had a chase campaign last year which resulted in 2 2nd’s in Grade 1 company behind Balder Succes and Uxizandre. She was a bit disappointing at Aintree when only 6th behind Silviniaco Conti and a switch back to hurdles could well get a deserved victory to her name. With the new Mares races throughout the season this could be a temporary or permanent switch and if she runs as well as last year then she should take all the beating. She was rated 157 over fences and her rivals here are rated just 138 or lower over hurdles. Blue Buttons has some decent form to her name including when winning at Wincanton giving away lots of weight although even this wouldn’t be good enough to challenge Ma Filleule. Stephanie Frances could be one that is interesting here. She finished 2nd last time out to The New One and although many people are suggesting that The New One was below par if it turns out that he ran a good race then Stephanie Frances has run really well. It would still be a shock if Ma Filleule didn’t win this.

Charlie Hall Chase

The opening big chase race of the season sees a stellar cast go to post. Last year all 3 of Menorah, Cue Card and Dynaste contested the Betfair Chase with the former coming out on top. He had also won this race and there were no fitness excuses for Cue Card that day. Also in this race is last years Hennessy and Grand National winner Many Clouds and Gold Cup 4th Holywell. It should be a great race and all will go on to run big races throughout the season. It’s a cracking race and we really can’t split most of these and it’s worth just watching.