The Action At Ascot

Ascot also hosts a top quality jumps card tomorrow featuring the return of some very promising sorts for this season.

The 1.55 looks a little trappy so i'll leave that alone but the 2.30 looks a nice race. Takeroc was an impressive winner at Aintree last week and is clearly in good form. But a break of just a week is surely short enough and for that reason preference is for the progressive Baseball Ted. He comes from the Charlie Longsdon stable who have been in red hot form so far this season. He has the benefit of a spin at Carlisle, when a good second, and looks to be on the upgrade at 9 years old. This is a career high mark but with the fitness on his side and the stable in great form he is taken to land this. 6/1 looks a good bet with Boylesports.

Topolski heads the weights for the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. He is thought of as a Champion hurdle contender but he will need to be to be winning this off of 150. I am not convinced by his form which has a distinctly shaky look to it, despite a Grade 2 win at Aintree. If Third Intention learns to settle then he has a race such as this in him but i fancy Elsafeer to go close for Tim Vaughan and Richard Johnson. Available at 8/1, this tough consistent sort looks a good EW to take some notable scalps. Third Intention also rates a decent bet at 8/1. There is improvement in him if he can settle but on his seasonal debut that is a concern.

The feature is the United House Gold Cup over 3 miles. Phillip Hobbs holds a strong hand with two progressive chasers in top weight Quinz and Balthazar King. However the form of the Munster National, won in convincing style by Muirhead from Bideford Legend looks strong. Muirhead faces a jump up the weights but on the best of his hurdles form has a bit still in hand. He might just be taking to the chasing game and couldn't have won any easier last time. He looks fair EW value at 8/1 with William Hill.

The Novice chase is an interesting 4 runner affair. No bet but a careful watching brief is advised. In particular Megastar from the stable of Gary Moore is of interest. He is a lovely big chasing type and i have been wanting to see him over fences for some time now. He always promised to deliver over hurdles but never quite put it in when it mattered. I am hoping that the switch to fences brings about the necessary improvement. He could well make up into a top class chaser. He faces a strong field on his debut so it will be interesting to see how he fares.