ASCOT SATURDAY

2.25 JLT LONG WALK HURDLE (3M97Y)

I’ll be rooting emotionally for the wonderful Reve De Sivola, who is bidding to better the achievements of both Baracouda and Big Buck’s in winning this prize for the fourth consecutive year. He’s been a star for connections over the years, winning Grade 1 contests every year since 2009 excepting a blank year in 2011 when he competed only over fences. It would be a brave man who ruled him out, and no-one will cheer more loudly if he wins, but my head tells me that Thistlecrack is the one to back here. Colin Tizzard’s charge was hugely progressive when stepped up to this sort of trip in the spring, and looked like he would benefit from the run when winning Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle at the Hennessy fixture. He was value for more than he achieved that day, and will improve for the outing, making him look value at anything bigger than 2/1. Saphir du Rheu reverts to timber after disappointing in the Hennessy, and he will probably start favourite, but Thistlecrack has comparable form, and is open to greater progress, so gets the nod in a high-class renewal of this contest.

3.00 SODEXO SILVER CUP HANDICAP CHASE(2M7F180Y)

It’s not been a great month so far for Paul Nicholls-trained chasers, but there is every chance that Salubrious could help rectify that situation in what looks a cracking handicap chase. Salubrious first caught the eye winning a bumper for Pam Sly, and has looked an excellent acquisition for Nicholls, providing nephew Harry Derham with a Cheltenham Festival winner in the 2013 Martin Pipe, and he looks at least as good over fences despite early setbacks (chasing career initially put on hold after an early setback, and then missed a year having picked up an injury when making a successful debut at Fontwell. He was tremendously impressive on his return at Carlisle, jumping fluently for one so inexperienced, and having plenty in hand. He looked one to follow there, and while I’d have preferred to see him run in the Welsh National, he still deserves to be shorter for this event.

3.35 LADBROKE HANDICAP HURDLE (1M7F152Y)

The value has dried up somewhat in recent days, but Winner Massagot has been on my radar for this race for a long time, and he needs the utmost respect. Ridiculously well handicapped starting out this season (wouldn’t have been beaten far in Grade 1 company at Aintree but for falling at the last), he’s totally unexposed, and won with some ease over this course and distance on his return. He’s taken a hefty rise in the weights for that, but had a ton in hand, and still looks well treated even before improvement is factored in.

HAYDOCK SATURDAY

1.30 D H WELTON 40th ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP CHASE (1M7F157Y)

I’m normally very keen to back Venetia Williams’ chasers after a break, and Arthurs Oak would be a prime candidate on that system, but most of those winning for the yard this winter had dropped in the handicap after poor runs (yard was out of form in the spring). In this case, the gelding ended his campaign with a win, and is racing off a career-high mark as a result. It’s more than possible he’ll improve further, but he did stay on really well at Huntingdon, and the drop back to a trip short of two miles doesn’t look a positive, while this sound jumper would also make more appeal on a track with stiffer fences. He’s respected, but I prefer the chances of Whispering Harry, who was outstayed at Newbury by Grey Gold last time, but that was a hugely encouraging performance against one who revels in the mud, and he will benefit from the slightly sharper test provided by Haydock. He won this corresponding event last season, is still improving over fences, and the Haydock form was boosted considerably when third-placed Pearls Legend won at Cheltenham last weekend.

I should also give a mention to Key To The West, who has been mentioned here in the past, and he’s capable of going well with his best foot forward, but a reluctant effort at Exeter last time shows he’s not one to trust implicitly, and he’s passed over on that score, albeit reluctantly. He’ll pop up at some point but is one you’d rather be backing at double figure prices than when skinny in the betting.

2.05 nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk HANDICAP HURDLE (2M2F191Y)

It must give Donald McCain mixed emotions to see the Paul and Clare Rooney horses formerly in his care winning races for others, as on one hand it could be viewed by the uncharitable as a damning indictment of his training ability, but he’s also the man who picked the horses believing that they would do well, so it’s also a justification of his skills as a judge.

The latest former McCain inmate to step out for a new yard is Three Faces West, who bucked the general trend by winning three on the bounce for the beleaguered McCain yard last season, and looks well enough treated on the bare form to suggest he should be making all again on his first start for Philip Hobbs, whose hurdlers are invariably well tuned after a break. He will hopefully be a fair price due to the presence of the well-touted Montdragon from Jonjo O’Neill’s stable, and that one may well start favourite, but his chance hinges on how you read his defeat of Laurium at Warwick, and I feel he had the race set up for him there. It can be argued that he’s on a lenient mark based on the runner-up, but I’m not so sure, and he also needs to prove he can handle the mud. That won’t be a problem for the selection, who looks certain to get loose on the lead, and the only concern is that the trip is probably as short as he wants, so Tom O’Brien won’t want to dawdle on the front end.

2.40 TOMMY WHITTLE HANDICAP CHASE (2M6F204Y)

The Tommy Whittle isn’t the race it was in the past, with a roll of honour including Cheltenham Festival winners Little Owl, Forgive’N Forget, The Thinker, Celtic Shot and One Man, and the redesign of the chase course at Haydock means it’s run over considerably shorter, and over much softer fences than was once the case. It’s still a competitive race, however, and I can sniff a minor upset in the shape of Plus Jamais, who was beaten by Final Assault at Ayr last month, but meets that rival on advantageous terms despite being out of the weights, and Jim Goldie’s eight-year-old gelding is another who looks sure to get loose in front in a field full of hold-up performers. He’s rarely seen away from his local venue, but Haydock is fairly similar in nature, and he is a consistent type who is more than likely to give his running. Seventh Sky bounced back to form when runner-up over the National fences at Aintree recently, and is the obvious alternative given he’s less reliant on waiting tactics than most. I’d also not rule out the seemingly regressive Cloudy Too, as he hinted at a revival from his reduced mark last time out, and has been eased again in the weights. He wasn’t beaten far in the Ascot Chase a couple of years ago, and while unlikely to recover that level of form, is lurking on a dangerous mark.

3.15 BET WITH YOUR RACING UK APP HANDICAP HURDLE (2M6F177Y)

Once again, plenty of eyes will be focused on the recalcitrant Sybarite, who has hated it over fences this season, virtually downing tools from the first fence at Exeter last time, but he remains capable of useful form when in the mood, and it’s possible that a return to hurdles might revive him here. He’s not for the faint hearted, however, and a more likely winner is Ugly Bug, who rather lost his way for Alex Dunn last season having failed to take to fences, but this huge gelding was back to form on his debut for Tony Carroll at Exeter last month, and that form is already working out, with third-placed Theatre Goer scoring at Taunton the other day. Ugly Bug isn’t quick, but he handles the mud well, and is very game when it comes to a battle. He’s dropped to a good mark, and can continue his revival in conditions which will suit him ideally.

RECOMMENDED

WHISPERING HARRY 1.30 Haydock - 1pt win

PLUS JAMAIS 2.40 Haydock - 1pt e/w

THISTLECRACK 2.25 Ascot - 1pt win

SALUBRIOUS 3.00 Ascot - 1pt win

WINNER MASSAGOT 3.35 Ascot - 1pt win