Ascot Saturday

1.50 Howden Handicap Chase 2m 2f 181yd

The Venetia Williams November renaissance failed to materialise as expected, but the horses have gradually been getting competitive, and Ascot is her happiest hunting ground, so I’m happy to row in with unexposed The Famous Five. The seven-year-old switched to fences only after his reappearance last winter, winning at Newbury and - but for one blip - improving steadily through the season, which culminated with an excellent second to Rath Gaul Hill at Newbury in February.

The third and fourth from that race have won handicap chases subsequently, and The Famous Five gives the impression that he will continue to progress for a while over fences, so gets the vote over Bad, who travelled well before not getting home over further in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

2.25 Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m 102yd

The staying division is very open and those at the top enjoy a precarious advantage, making Strong Leader look poor value here, especially as he bombed out in the race 12 months ago. He is usually kept to left-handed tracks these days and can be opposed again. Beauport was nibbled at big odds for this race last year and ran the race of his life, jumping well in front and giving best to Crambo only from the last.

The latter has arguably returned out of sorts, and Beauport will surely make the most of his proven stamina again, so I don’t get why he’s as big as 25/1 here having made a most encouraging return to action at Cheltenham in November. He has run many of his best races going clockwise (record right-handed at two and a half miles and up reads 12215213) and is a thorough stayer who will gallop through the line, making him a very tempting each-way bet in an open race.

3.00 Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase 2m 7f 185yd

Pic Roc was a huge eye-catcher in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time, badly inconvenienced by the standing start and left poorly positioned as a result, but making relentless progress on the final circuit to finish a highly creditable fifth to Panic Attack.

A fall at Carlisle early in his chasing career set him back, but he looked in top form when winning by a wide margin at Huntingdon prior to Newbury and is seemingly ready to fulfil the potential he’s shown from an early stage. His jumping can still be a little scrappy at times, but he’s lurking on a lenient mark and looks to have plenty in his favour, including the return to a right-handed track.

3.35 Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 157yd

Fiercely Proud is a hard horse to catch right, but won this last year and it would be no surprise to see him stage a revival for his in-form yard, given how well he won 12 months ago. I’m not sure I’m that forgiving, but I do fancy one at an even bigger price here who has tendency to finish weakly, and that is Welsh Charger who isn’t as flaky as that description suggests and has a record of six wins from 14 starts over hurdles, which isn’t a bad haul for a supposed twicer.

Welsh Charger caught the eye in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, making the running and keeping on again having briefly looked like dropping out, eventually finishing 13 lengths fourth behind Alexei and looking like the run would bring him on.

Bred to stay further, Welsh Charger tends to race freely in front but while that has left him with nothing for the finish at times, there have been other races where he has been headed and stayed on again, as last time, and that inherent stamina seems to be kicking in. The run to concentrate on, regarding his ability to battle back, is the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh last season, when unable to lead and looking beaten early in the straight before rallying gamely to lead close home to beat Afadil by a length. That was not the run of a one-dimensional front-runner and the key to him is getting him to settle early, as he did amongst horses at Musselburgh.

Welsh Charger has won several times on his second start after a break so can be expected to improve for his run at Cheltenham, which was his first since Haydock in May, and prior to that he’d been beaten just a length and three-quarters in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He’s 1lb lower than for that run and, while not thrown in exactly, looks capable of closing the gap between him and Alexei on 13lb better terms. His Scottish County Hurdle win improved his record at around two miles when racing right-handed to 212141, and he’s one to be interested in at present.

Haydock Saturday

2.05 Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase 3m 1f 125yd

Jacks Parrot was an excellent second in this last year, when a raw five-year-old and is able to race off the same mark now, despite continuing to show promise as a staying chaser. He needed the run over hurdles on his return at Bangor last month, just as he did in his prep for this contest last year, and his stable is showing signs of a revival of late having gone through a quiet spell.

More rain would aid the selection, but for a stayer, he also travels and jumps well in his races and should be up to winning races at this trip and further this season, with a regional National likely to be on his agenda in the spring.

My Silver Lining was back to form when placed in the Berkshire National last time and she is gradually getting back to the form that saw her win the Classic Chase at Warwick a couple of years ago. She doesn’t travel with the same enthusiasm as she used to but is a sound jumper who stays well and appeals as a danger, particularly if the ground rides very deep.

2.40 Betfred Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 2m 2f 191yd

A Path To Ronda is a bigger price than Supreme Malinas here, but is very closely matched with that mare, finishing in front of her in a Listed bumper at Sandown in March and chasing her home over hurdles at Exeter last time when conceding a winner’s penalty.

They didn’t jump many obstacles at Exeter and I don’t think that helped A Path To Ronda, who was in front when landing awkwardly three from home and unable to refind her rhythm after that. She will appreciate having a full complement of obstacles here and can reverse Exeter form on 7lb better terms.

Recommended

The Famous Five 1.50 Ascot – 1pt win @ 7/2 (Bet365; 10/3 general)

Beauport 2.25 Ascot – 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (Bet365 4 places; 22/1 SkyBet)

Pic Roc 3.00 Ascot – 1pt win @ 4/1 (general)

Welsh Charger 3.35 Ascot – 1pt e/w @ 28/1 (Hills ¼ odds 4 places; 25/1 general)

Jacks Parrot 2.05 Haydock – 1pt win @ 9/2 (general)

A Path To Ronda 2.40 Haydock – 1pt e/w @ 6/1 (SkyBet, Paddy Power)