RACES at Ascot are always very competitive and difficult to win – but at least I have six chances of a victory at one of my favourite courses today. Katenko makes his reappearance in the feature race, the £100,000 United House Gold Cup.

As many of you are no doubt aware, he suffered a severe bout of colic in 2013, so it was fantastic just to see him back on the racecourse last season.

He ran with credit and was fourth in the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January and third in the Denman Chase a month later at Newbury, but he might not have been the same horse as he was the season before.

They tell me that he’s never been better at home and hopefully today will show us exactly where we are with him.

I kick off with Padre Tito in the novices’ handicap hurdle. I schooled him on Thursday, which was straightforward enough, but I don’t know an awful lot else. Emma Lavelle’s horses are running well - she’s had four winners in the last 10 days - and hopefully that run can continue.

Another trainer in good form is Charlie Longsdon, who I rode a winner for on Wednesday. We team up again with Our Kaempfer, who ran very nicely to finish fifth in the Aintree bumper on Grand National day.

That’s good form and should put him right there in the novices’ hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s Clondaw Banker looks the one to beat.

The Clock Leary, the first of four rides for Venetia (Williams), is a big horse, who was always going to be a better chaser than hurdler and will be worth following over the bigger obstacles this season.

This race, the novices’ limited handicap chase, is a tough place to start though and he might want it a bit softer, but he should run well enough.

Stone Light, who runs in the Byrne Group Handicap Chase, was a little weak last season. She travels very well but wasn’t quite finishing off her races. She’s strengthened up over the summer and all the conditions should suit.

Baradari had a very good juvenile hurdle campaign for us last season, highlighted by his fifth in the Fred Winter at the Festival, a race he might have won if I could have my time again.

He’s a horse we’ve always liked and we’d be hopeful of a good showing at a nice price in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

I’m at Carlisle tomorrow, and my pick could be Otago Trail in the novices’ hurdle. He’s a very promising horse and this looks a good opportunity.

I’ll be tuning in to watch the Breeders’ Cup, and I reckon Dank and Telescope hold the best chances for Europe. Anything Ryan Moore rides now is worth following.

His ride on Adelaide in the Cox Plate was terrific and his record this year is phenomenal.