This weekend is one to enjoy, with Ascot, Haydock, and Punchestown taking centre stage.
That Morgiana Hurdle, the return of Galopin Des Champs, and the first UK Grade 1 race of the 2023/24 season are all on this weekend, so enjoy the next few days.
Anyway, a few horses caught my eye for Ascot on Friday, so let’s dive in.
1:30 Ascot – Wade Out @ 7/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
I’m taking a chance that Wade Out has sharpened up his jumping since his first run over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month.
He scrambled over a few of the flights on his hurdles debut, but he’s entitled to improve for the experience and there’s no questioning the engine he showed that day.
The second, We’re Red And Blue, was race-fit and went on to win a maiden hurdle on his next start to frank the form.
The third, Knight Of Allen, had Grade 1 aspirations put upon him by Jane Williams at the start of the season as well, so beating him by over five lengths is notable.
However, there’s no getting away from the fact that this race is a hot one.
Celtic Dino looked good in a winnable race at Wincanton last month, Joyeuse comes from the family of Epatante and won a fair race at Taunton last year, and Royal Infantry was a nice bumper horse who started his career over hurdles well at Chepstow earlier this month.
However, I have no reason to ditch Wade Out here and I still look back at the turn of foot he showed in his Market Rasen bumper success fondly.
This is his first big test, so let’s see how he handles it.
2:05 Ascot – Persian Time @ 11/2 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW
Nicky Henderson’s Persian Time has circled my mind for a few weeks now, but finally connections have pulled the trigger on declaring him.
He held an entry for the Grand Sefton a few weeks ago, but speaking to Ella McNeill of the McNeill Family, she said he just needed a bit more time to get over his seasonal reappearance.
That suggests he needed his first run of the season.
He’s a bulky horse, but he likes slightly faster ground as he has three victories on good to soft next to his name.
The latest came in March at Kempton when Henderson’s stable form was massively out, so the performance is upgraded notably.
Furthermore, he beat Soul Icon over 2m2f that day who has improved 10lbs since having nearly won the Summer Plate and Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase.
Beau Balko also finished third that day and he won a Wincanton recently.
The six-year-old by Califet also has an Ascot success next to his name having beaten Homme Public in December 2023.
He was fortunate that Authorised Speed fell that day, but the runner-up won at Doncaster on his next start.
It will be interesting to see how he handles this 2m5f test, and with the Henderson stable form in much better nick than his last win (29% SR), his chance looks good off 134.
Just of the rest, Corrigeen Rock off top weight would look like the obvious danger.
He likes the surface, has good form with Thunder Rock, and goes well fresh.
2:40 Ascot – Aucunrisque @ 11/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW
It might be time to give up on Aucunrisque soon, but I’m willing to chance him at Ascot on Friday.
Let’s get the facts straight. His last winning mark was 138 when winning the 2023 Betfair Hurdle, he ran to an RPR of 141 on his last visit to Ascot in November 2023, and six of his seven victories have come on ground better than good to soft.
He keeps reeling me in due to his attractive handicap mark, but the fact Freddie Gordon claims five pounds off his current mark of 129 is too hard to ignore.
He tends to ride a bit behind the bridle, but he showed plenty of promise on his last start at Cheltenham when Gordon couldn’t claim anything in the saddle, and the second (Norman Fletcher) won impressively off a three-pound higher mark on his next start at Huntingdon.
His only start at Ascot saw him finish a fair fifth off 144 behind Boothill (second in the Shloer Chase last week), Frere d’Armes, Triple Trade (a winner on his next start), and Corrigeen Rock (a winner of the Scottish Champion Chase two starts later).
Look, he isn’t the same horse as he once was, but an effective mark of 124 looks very attractive.
