The most valuable race of the day, the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, will have an odds-on favourite on Saturday for the third time in the last four years but the bookmakers are going 5-1 the field in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park and that makes the contest a much more attractive proposition for the average punter.
A strong case can be made for half a dozen of the 13 runners, including Rock The Kasbah and Hainan, who both have winning form on heavy ground and proven stamina beyond three miles. Marginal preference, though, is for the novice Tintern Theatre (3.15), who is up just 4lb in the official ratings for his win at Kempton over Christmas and could improve again for another step up in trip.
Ascot 1.50 Dusky Legend would have gone close but for falling two out at Newbury last month but still has something to find with La Bague Au Roi. Warren Greatrex’s mare found further improvement for the step up to Saturday’s trip at Kempton last time.
Haydock 2.05 Five of the six runners won their latest start and three of those are proven on heavy ground, but Lostintranslation still looks the likeliest winner for all that he has yet to race on ground this testing. The six-year-old looked as though he would stay a longer trip when he won at Newbury last month, registering an eye-catching time in the process.
Ascot 2.25 A deep and competitive handicap hurdle, with Crossed My Mind, an Irish raider in the JP McManus colours, adding to the intrigue. Oxwich Bay was odds-on to win a maiden hurdle last time and did so with a minimum of fuss but he has experience of a big field at Cheltenham in November and remains unexposed at this trip.
Haydock 2.40 The New One has won four times over course and distance including the last three runnings of this race. He has yet to line up against an opponent as strong as Ch’tibello, however, and the seven-year-old’s close second behind Yanworth in last season’s Kingwell Hurdle reads well in the light of his 6lb concession from the favourite today.
Ascot 3.00 Acting Lass has made an excellent start to her chasing career with two wins in small-field events, jumping noticeably well on both occasions. This is a different test, though, and while she deserves to start favourite, others make more appeal at the prices. Robinshill, too, is still unexposed but Guitar Pete, raised only 5lb for his win at Cheltenham before Christmas, could make his experience count.
Ascot 3.35 Brain Power, a novice in only his third race over fences who unseated his jockey last time, has been the gamble all week to beat Un De Sceaux, the winner of this race two years ago. He should certainly travel well behind the front-running favourite but Un De Sceaux still has plenty in hand on the book and can register the eighth Grade One win of his career.
Ascot 12.40 Nayati 1.15 Chef D’Equipe 1.50 La Bague Au Roi
2.25 Oxwich Bay (nap) 3.00 Guitar Pete 3.35 Un De Sceaux
4.05 Santini
Chelmsford 6.15 Sandfrankskipsgo 6.45 No More Thrills
7.15 Beautiful Memory 7.45 Coillte Cailin 8.15 Spare Parts 8.45 Authentic Art
Haydock 12.55 Chozen 1.30 Testify 2.05 Lostintranslation
2.40 Ch’tibello 3.15 Tintern Theatre (nb) 3.45 Lake Field 4.15 Apollo Creed
Lingfield 12.20 Chester Street 12.50 Court House 1.25 Broughtons Story 2.00 Karam Albaari 2.35 Al Hamdany 3.10 Gakku 3.40 Cosmic Love 4.10 Strategic Heights
Taunton 1.05 Notre Ami 1.40 Enola Gay 2.15 Monbeg Legend
2.50 Captain Buck’s 3.25 Ey Yp Rocky 3.55 Kauto Riko
