Ascot

1.20pm

Falco Blitz

Second in his only point, he was a consistent hurdler last season and one proven on both good and heavy ground, so hopefully this course winner can handle anything that the weather throws at him for the next 24 hours. He ended last season with a good fifth in a very competitive handicap at Kempton and I’ve always thought he would make up into a smart chaser. Nothing he has done at home in preparation for this has changed that view, and I’d like to think he is on a fair mark on 132, too.

2.32pm

Captain Morgs

He clearly shaped very well when second in a Warwick bumper earlier in the month, just failing to get up. We waste no time in getting him over hurdles here and he has worked and schooled well at home, including last Saturday. This is a decent novice, as you would expect being at Ascot, but he gets weight from the winner Fearless and hopefully he has an each-way chance at the very least, and fingers crossed a winning one.

3.05pm

Countister

She was at the top of her game two seasons ago, when third in the County off just a 2lb higher mark than this, and she ran well first time up when seventh in the Greatwood last term. She didn’t run up to that form next time here in December but hopefully she can get back on track off a falling mark.

3.40pm

Might Bite

It has been a long while since he last won at Aintree in 2018 and there has been a lot of water under the bridge since, but the handicapper has given him a chance at least by dropping him to a mark of 152 for his return. He showed a bit of the old flame was still flickering when third in the Denman Chase last season and he enjoyed himself in the Cross Country on his final start, and we all know he has the raw ability to be very competitive off this mark. His best days may be behind him as an 11yo, but let’s hope he has a big run him in here.

4.17pm

Arturus

We had a really nice bumper winner at Cheltenham last week and Arturus is bred to be one too, as he is a Camelot half-brother to no less than the mighty Hurricane Fly, among others. I am sure he will get a lot of attention because of that, but let’s see what he can do on the track before anyone gets carried away, and this bumper could take a lot of winning, too.