Ascot today

An excellent Saurday card at Ascot today with the Grade One Ascot Chase over nearly 2 3/4 miles at 16.00 CET as the main event. Riverside Theatre (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) won this last year and has not raced since, but we expect him to complete the double. He is the best horse in the field and his earlier second place to Long Run in the King George last year was a good effort. With the stable in top form, the break should be no worry, but Kauto Stone (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) looks a big threat. This half-brother to Kauto Star could be anything, and after an easy win in Ireland, he was runner-up to Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek, over a clearly indequate trip. Medermit (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) and I´msingingtheblues (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) are both top handicappers but unproven in this class, while German-bred Gauvin (Charlie Mann/ Noel Fehily) was beaten 10 lengths in this last year, but could finish in the money again as long as he stays on his feet.

The Grade Two novice chase at 14.50 is another strong race, with once again Henderson/ Geraghty and Nicholls/ Walsh supplying the favourites in Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti respectively. Although Bobs Worth finished behind his rival at Christmas, we expect him to reverse the form today, while Invictus (King/ Thornton) in receipt of 3 lbs is another danger.

Henderson and Geraghty should also take the opening novice hurdle at 14.15 with Keys, who was a smart bumper and also useful on the flat. The handicaps here looks very tricky. The Minack (Nicholls/ Walsh) has top-weight in the 3 mile chase at 15.25. He has earned his rating, but we are not sure he can give so much weight to Cappa Bleu (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) and the improving Penny Max (Emma Lavelle/ Fehily). The hurdle race at 16.35 is even more open with 18 runners. Our 4 against the field are top-weight Smad Place (King/ Thornton), Art Professor (Venetia Williams/(Sam Thomas), Valid Reason (Dean Ivory/ Moloney) and Bourne (Donald McCain/ Henry Brooke).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Keys - Super Duty - Saint Roque
2. Race: Silviniaco Conti - Bobs Worth - Invictus
3. Race: The Minack - Penny Max - Cappa Bleu
4. Race: Riverside Theatre - Kauto Stone - Medermit
5. Race: Smad Place - Swincombe Flame - Art Professor
6. Race: Balder Succes - Hazy Tom - Une Artiste
7. Race: River Maigue - Atlantic Roller - Royal Guardsman