IT was a shame that today’s Red Mills meeting at Gowran Park fell to the elements yesterday, but it is good that it has been rescheduled, for next Friday, even if it is now six days closer to Cheltenham than originally intended.

At least, in contrast to last Saturday, when there wasn’t a scrap of National Hunt racing in Britain, we are facing into a really good weekend of jump racing across the water, with Ascot and Haydock today, and Newbury’s rescheduled Betfair Hurdle meeting tomorrow.

It is going to be very interesting to see how Cyrname gets on in the Betfair Ascot Chase this afternoon. Paul Nicholls’ horse looked good in winning the Charlie Hall Chase on his debut this season, but he was well-beaten in the King George when we last saw him.

We know how good he is at Ascot, he was brilliant over this course and distance three times in 2019, rising from a rating of 150 to a rating of 177. But he was a beaten horse when he fell at the final fence in this race last year.

His stable companion Master Tommytucker is very good on his day when he puts in a clear round, as he did (except for at the last, a close-your-eyes moment) at Kempton last time, and Dashel Drasher is a seriously progressive horse. Jeremy Scott’s horse has a stone to find with Cyrname on official ratings, but he is three for three at Ascot and he is two for two over the course and distance. Stranger things have happened.

It might be worthwhile backing Demachine in the Grade 2 Bateaux London Reynoldstown Chase earlier in the day. Kerry Lee’s horse was progressive in novices’ handicap chases before the turn of the calendar, and there is every chance that he can make the step up now into graded company now.

He was a little keen on his seasonal debut, his chasing debut, at Uttoxeter in October, but he still kept on well to win nicely, and he stepped forward from that next time when he won well at Ascot off a 10lb higher mark.

His jumping was very good that day in the main, and he travelled well. He hit the front at the second last fence, and he stayed on well to win comfortably, leaving the impression that he had a fair bit more in hand of Young Bull than the bare winning margin of almost four lengths.

And the third horse, Hold That Taught, enhanced the form when he came out next time and was only just beaten by the talented Ask Me Early in a novices’ handicap chase at Chepstow on Welsh National day off a 2lb higher mark.

Raised by another 8lb for that win, Demachine didn’t run badly last time over two miles and six and a half furlongs at Newbury when he finished third behind subsequent Scilly Isles Chase third Paint The Clouds. He travelled well to the end of the back straight that day, and he moved up nicely into second place behind Paint The Clouds, but he just couldn’t get past Fergal O’Brien’s horse, who ran out an impressive winner, and he lost second place to Dickie Diver on the run-in.

He was getting 8lb from Severano that day, and he meets that rival on level terms today. He has 7lb to find with him on official ratings. But he kept on well enough to finish three lengths ahead of him at Newbury, so there is every chance that he can confirm placings, even on worse terms.

The return to three miles is a positive, but the return to Ascot is an even greater positive. Back to the course and distance over which he put up a career-best on his penultimate run. He is only seven and he has raced just three times over fences in his life, and he could step forward again today.

Go with Gladiateur

Gladiateur Allen could also step forward again in the Betfair Cheltenham Free Pot Builder Handicap Hurdle. Placed in his first two runs over hurdles earlier this season, he put up a career-best last time when he stayed on strongly to win a novices’ hurdle at Ascot four weeks ago.

Jane Williams’ horse was keen through the early stages of his race that day, but he travelled well to the third last flight. He had to be strong to engineer racing room for himself on the run to the home turn, but he travelled well into the home straight, and he stayed on well over the last two flights to win.

The handicapper raised him by 9lb for that win to a mark of 131, but he has the potential to go beyond that mark now. He did well to keep on as well as he did last time, given how keen he had been, and he probably idled on the run-in, despite pulling clear.

This is obviously a much better race, but that, combined with the slight drop in trip, should produce a faster pace which should help him settle better through his race.

He lacks experience, he is only five and he has raced just three times, but that is counteracted by the potential that he has for further progression.

We know that he goes well at the track and on the ground, and Chester Williams, who gave him a good ride last time, takes off a useful 5lb again. It is a good each-way race if all 16 runners stand their ground.

Recommended:

Demachine, 1 point win, 1.50 Ascot, 4/1 (generally)

Gladiateur Allen, 1 point each-way, 3.00 Ascot, 11/2 (generally)