N.H. racing at Ascot

Today´s high class card at Ascot goes ahead after an early morning inspection and there could be several Cheltenham candidates on view, notably Menorah (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), who defeated the highly-rated Bellvano last time and will be at very short odds to land the novice hurdle at 16.45 CET. The novice hurdle at 14.40 looks more open, but ex-German Sereth (Barney Curley/ Paul Moloney) must have a good chance; Finians Rainbow (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) looks the main danger. Curley and Moloney are also represented by the progressve Zabeel Palace in a very competitive handicap hurdle at 15.45; plenty of possibilkitis here, including Tasheba (Henderson/ David Bass) and ex-German El Dancer( Lucy Wadham/ Leighton Aspell), who fell over fences last time but may be more at home here. Nicky Hemderson could be in for another good day and his Burton Point (Geraghty) is taken to beat consistent Knockara Beau (George Charlton/ Jan Faltejsek) in the Grade Two Reynoldst own Chase at 15.15.

Big race here is the Grade One Ascot Chase at 16.15 over 2 3/4 miles. Only 6 runners but still quite tricky for punters. Herecomesthetruth (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) fell last time, but is an obvious contender. Alberta´s Run (Jonjo O´Neill/ Dougie Costello) won a similar race here over slightly shorter in November, with Planet of Sound (favourite) (Hobbs/ Johnson) second and Monet´s Garden (Nicky Richards/ Geraghty) behind, while Oh Crick (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) kept on well when third to Twist Magic last time. Any of these could win, but at level weights we just prefer Planet of Sound.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Finian`S Rainbow - Sereth - Spirit Of Adjisa
2. Race: Burton Port - Knockara Beau - Pettifour
3. Race: Beshabar - Zabeel Palace - Tasheba
4. Race: Planet Of Sound - Herecomesthetruth - Albertas Run
5. Race: Menorah - Prince Buster - Born Again
6. Race: Russian Flag - I`Msingingtheblues - Panjo Bere
7. Race: Sprinter Sacre - King Of The Night - Venetian Lad