ASCOT SATURDAY

12.55 BAM CONSTRUCT UK CHASE (NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP) 2M 7F 180Y

Things didn’t go to plan after an excellent start to last season for Will O’The West, but he can make up for that now switched to fences, and he very much caught the eye when fourth at Uttoxeter on his first attempt over fences last month. The son of Westerner was dropped right out and came very wide at the Staffordshire venue, but was nearest at the finish despite not being knocked about, and he should build on that educational run. Rated 128 by the assessor when an unlucky loser (rider unbalanced and dropped reins late on) at Cheltenham last October. He has slipped to an official mark of 124, and is fancied to make the most of the handicapper’s generosity.

Lough Derg Farmer isn’t thrown in on the form he showed over timber as a novice, but Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old is thoroughly unexposed, and should make up into a better chaser, so he merits plenty of respect, with Henderson having landed this event with chase debutants in two of the last three years.

2.05 CHRISTY 1965 CHASE (GRADE 2) 2M 5F 8Y

Royal Regatta saves his best form for Ascot, so can’t be ignored at a double-figure price, while Smad Place is as good as ever, and has ideal conditions again, but this can go to Top Notch, who isn’t the most prepossessing of chasers, but jumps very well in the main, and might have won the JLT at Cheltenham in March but for losing ground when a big leap was required at the second last. Nicky Henderson’s charge didn’t get the credit he deserved as a novice, but is undeniably well named, and he looks a touch of value with a run over hurdles at Aintree to sharpen him up.

The selection was very impressive when winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown, and jumped accurately when scoring over this course and distance on his previous start. He failed to fire on his final start last term, but that merely serves to mask his true ability and he really ought to start favourite for this contest.

2.40 CORAL HURDLE (ASCOT) (GRADE 2) 2M 3F 58Y

The chances are that Defi Du Seuil, who has bypassed a couple of mooted targets already, will be a very warm order for this given his position in the Champion Hurdle market, but the truth is that juvenile hurdlers have a lot more to prove in open company than most second-season performers and the four-year-old lags behind both L’Ami Serge and Lil Rockerfeller in terms of form.

The former had a reputation of a thinker last season, but put that to bed when winning the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) in June, where the application of a hood seemed to be a great benefit to him. L’Ami Serge doesn’t always find as much for pressure as can seem likely, but that accusation could not be levelled at him in the Auteuil contest, and the reason he can flatter is that he’s entitled to do a little too much on the bridle, with the dissipation of energy leaving him with less to offer in the finish. He was more restrained in how he travelled last time with a hood tried, and he can prove himself full value for that by scoring in this slightly less exalted company, despite having to concede weight.

It should be noted that Defi Du Seuil is also penalised here, albeit getting just a half-penalty for his Triumph Hurdle win, and that very much tips the balance in favour of the older horse.

3.50 ELITE AV STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT 1M 7F 152Y

The opportunity to watch some of the leading fancies work at Newbury before the newly-established Ladbrokes Winter Festival was a welcome one earlier this week, but the biggest eyecatcher wasn’t one of the Ladbrokes Trophy entrants, but Warren Greatrex’s bumper performer Portrush Ted, who worked with Coral Hurdle entry Dicosimo and Missed Approach, who will carry the stable’s hopes in the big chase next weekend.

Portrush Ted ended up finishing last in the gallop, but not before moving easily with his more experienced stablemates and being eased late. A good mover with plenty of scope, Portrush Ted has already shown he has plenty of ability by winning a bumper at Uttoxeter in March and the way he travelled in his work suggests he’s derived plenty of benefit from that experience. He is clearly on good terms with himself and will take plenty of beating with the trainer’s son Tom claiming a useful allowance.

HAYDOCK SATURDAY

1.50 BETFAIR EXCHANGE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 2F 191Y

It’s hard to get away from Clyne here despite top weight, with his impost reduced by the excellent Mitch Bastyan. His second to The New One in the track’s Champion Hurdle Trial in February is very strong form, with subsequent Grand Course de Haies d’Auteuil winner L’Ami Serge back in third, and there was again no shame in coming off second best to The New One in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month. He copes extremely well with heavy ground, and clearly has the class required to give weight and a beating to these rivals.

2.25 BETFAIR STAYERS’ HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE 3) 2M 6F 177Y

A win for Clyne earlier would be a pointer to the chances of Le Rocher, who pushed that rival hard in the fog here last December and he is better than he showed when behind Sam Spinner at Chepstow last month, a race Nick Williams also used as a prep for 2014 winner Aubusson. Le Rocher is best on testing ground, and will go well if he can prove his stamina for this trip, which he promises to stay.

Like Aubusson, Sam Spinner was second in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, and he found his way into plenty of notebooks at the Welsh track, having been campaigned solely in the north as a novice. His mark remains a very fair one, and he is another who could well improve for this trip given his pedigree. I’m happy to back both at the prices.

RECOMMENDED

L’AMI SERGE 2.40 Ascot – 1.5pts win @ 10/3 (general)

CLYNE 1.50 Haydock – 2pts win @ 7/2 (Hills)

LE ROCHER 2.25 Haydock – 1pt e/w @ 11/1 (Hills, Ladbrokes)

SAM SPINNER 2.25 Haydock – 1pt e/w @ 9/1 (Stan James)