A fascinating card at Ascot this afternoon with the eagerly-awaited chase debut of Josses Hill (2.30) the highlight for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty in the Grade 2 Noel Novices' Chase. The selection finished runner up to Vautour in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival before going one better when scoring at Aintree. He has the stamp and scope to make up into a top class two-mile chaser and he was backed from 8s into 7/1 for the Arkle earlier in the week at BetVictor ahead of his first start over the larger obstacles.
He won't have things all his own way with Ptit Zig unbeaten in two novice chases so far this season and it should be noted that the Paul Nicholls-trained runner has experience over fences and was rated a 7llb superior hurdler to the selection. That said I am a big fan of Josses Hill and will be disappointed if he couldn't make a winning start to his chasing career even in such a quality race.
The Grade 2 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial sees another small but select field with Willie Mullins bringing over Killultagh Vic against the 4-y-old L'Ami Serge and the maiden over hurdles Emerging Talent (1.55) and it is the latter, in receipt of 7lbs from the other principles, who gets the vote.
The selection has finished runner up in both starts over obstacles at Chepstow over 2m 4f and at the minimum trip at Cheltenham last time when he was just touched off by Vyta Du Roc who followed up at Sandown. The front-running Gunner Fifteen should ensure there is no hanging about and the selection looks an outstanding long-term prospect. Emerging Talent is currently 33/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at BetVictor and those odds will shorten if he makes it third time lucky over jumps.
Batavir was well supported but well beaten at Leicester on his British debut over the minimum trip last month and David Pipe steps him up in trip in a competitive handicap over 2m 6f. AP McCoy takes the ride as Tom Scudamore goes to Uttoxeter and with that in mind preference is for the progressive Little Boy Boru (3.05) who gets on well for amateur Harry Bannister and might have found 3m just too far at Newbury last time. This trip should be within his compass and he can reward each way support for a stable in good form at present.
Mullins brings over Rio Treasure for a valuable bumper but Yanworth (3.40) looked very good when scoring at Newbury at the Hennessy Meeting and he can make it three out of three for Alan King. The gelding ran in the colours of his trainer when scoring first time but had been acquitted privately by JP McManus by the time he made his second start last month.
At Uttoxeter Smart Motive (12.10) can race from the same mark as when scoring in a conditional jockey's event at Bangor last time for Alan King and the 4-year-old is 10lbs well on official figures. The excellent Tom Bellamy takes off a valuable 5lbs and is hard to oppose.
Ryan Hatch takes off a valuable 5lbs from the back of Winged Crusader (2.55) and caught a tartar at Leicester last time when beaten by The Ould Lad who franked the form at Cheltenham last weekend when finishing second in a hot handicap. He can run off the same mark this afternoon and will be difficult to beat although he is unproven on heavy ground.
Milansbar (1.45) would be carrying 11lbs more if this race were to be run 24-hours later and as long as he doesn't “bounce” he will be hard to beat having looked well ahead of the handicapper when scoring over half a mile shorter earlier in the month.
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