Top jumpers in action today

The N.H. season really gets under way today with excellent cards at both Wetherby and Ascot, as well as Naas in Ireland. The best race is the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase over 3 miles 1 furlongs at 16.20 CET at Wetherby, which has attracted a strong field with several runners likely to be in action at the Cheltenham Festival if all goes to plan. Nacarat (Tom George/ Sam Thomas) won this last year with a spectacular display, but he meets better opposition this time and has to concede weight all round. RubyWalsh partners the smart Poqulin for Paul Nicholls, but he is moving up in trip and we are not sure he can stay this far. The two to beat are Diamond Harry (Nick Williams/ James Reveley), easy winner of the Hennessy when last seen, and Time for Rupert (Paul Webber/ Wayne Kennedy), both of whom could be up to Gold Cup standard. Despite the weights, we prefer Diamond Harry, who has won 10 of his 13 starts and always runs well fresh.

The Grade Two hurdle over the same trip at 15.45 can go to CD specialist and German-bred Fair Along (Philip Hobbs/ Rhys Flint), who has won this race for the last 2 years. On his form at other tracks - although also pretty good- he cannot hope to beat Carlito Brigante (Gordon Elliott/ Tom Scudamore) at these weights, but he reserves his best form for this race and we hope to see him land the hat-trick. What a Friend (Nicholls/ Walsh),a smart chaser now reverting to hurdles, is another danger. We also like smart flat handicapper Smoky Oakey (Mark Tompkins/ Colin Bolger) owned by actor Judi Dench, to win the novice hurdle at 17.00 here, while the mares hurdle at 15.15 looks between Alasi (Paul Webber/ Dominic Elsworth) and Whoops a Daisy (Nicky Henderson/ Richie Killoran).

Henderson keeps his main jockey Barry Geraghty closer to home - at Ascot, where the partnership can win the novice hurdle at 17.15 with Tornado d´Estruval and also has chances with Oasis Knight at 14.55, Anquetta at 15.30 and A Media Luz at 16.00- although these are all very tricky events. Main feature here is the 3 mile handicap chase (Grade Three) at 16.40. Two German-breds, both by Lando, could run well here- Ostland (Charlie Longsdon /Andrew Tinkler) and Air Force One (Charlie Mann/ Noel Fehily), but this is a very open race. Muirhead (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) recently beat Bideford Legend (Charlie Byrnes/ Geraghty) in the Munster National, but the latter can reverse the placings on 8 lbs better terms.

Ascot - betting forecast:
1. Race: Psi - Merehead - Arab League
2. Race: Takeroc - Baseball Ted - Anquetta
3. Race: Topolski - Kumbeshwar - Third Intention
4. Race: Bideford Legend - Muirhead - Balthazar King
5. Race: Tornade d`Estruval - Court In Session - Saute
6. Race: Megastar - Micheal Flips - Tiger O`Toole
7. Race: Crystal Swing - Jojabean - Stormy Gale