Ascot and Haydock

At least the two best meetings today are safe, but they look very tricky for punters in view of the ground and some small fields, especially at Haydock. Ruby Walsh is here with 5 promising rides for Paul Nicholls and looks certain to go home with at least a winner or two. We expect their Domtaline to beat Kumbeshwar (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson)- a dodgy jumper- in the graduation chase at 14.20 CET, where Devotion to Duty (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) could also be a factor in receipt of 7 lbs from them both. They can follow up with Poungach in the novice chase at 14.55, where Gullinbursti (Emma Lavelle/ Dougie Costello) looks the main danger, but we are a bit dubious about Landscape in the novice hurdle at 15.30; as a son of Lando, he may not go on the ground and in any case Clondaw Kaempfer (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) looks hard to beat here. Wilton Milan has a good chance in the novice hurdle at 16.05, but he ran very green last time and Gevrey Chambertin ( David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) looks a serious opponent here.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ubaltique - Hollo Ladies - Conquisto
2. Race: Kumbeshwar - Domtaline - Devotion To Duty
3. Race: Poungach - Knock A Hand - Super Duty
4. Race: Clondaw Kaempfer - Lienosus - Landscape
5. Race: Gevrey Chambertin - Wilton Milan - Fourjacks
6. Race: Vinstar - Varom - Runswick Royal



The team to follow at Ascot could be Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty, who can take the first two races with Minella Forfitness in the maiden hurdle at 13.55 and MInella Class in the beginners chase at 14.30 - although Restless Harry (Robin Dickin/ Henry Oliver) could be a big danger here on his chasing debut. Henderson also runs the Queen´s Close Touch in the introductory hurdle at 15.05 and this one also looks a good prospect. The 3 handicaps here look very open, and our two against the field are Vino Griego (Gary and Jamie Moore) and All for Free (having his first start for David Bridgwater with Richard Johnson booked to ride) at 15.40, Carrickboy (Venetia Williams Aidan Coleman) and The Sawyer (Bob Buckler/ Andrew Glassonbury) at 16.15 and Petit Robin (Henderson/ Geraghty) and Bourne (Donald McCain/ Henry Brooke) in the last race at 16.50; in each case we have tried to find specialists for very soft going.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Barney Cool - Minella Forfitness - Many Clouds
2. Race: Restless Harry - Minella Class - Arthurian Legend
3. Race: Close Touch - Lordofthehouse - Fair Trade
4. Race: Royale`S Charter - Marshal Zhukov - Kapga De Cerisy
5. Race: Loch Ba - Prophete De Guye - Nez Rouge
6. Race: Petit Robin - Starluck - Dan Breen