Ascot

1.15pm

On The Blind Side

He just could never get into any jumping rhythm in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time, and that was clearly a big disappointment on the back of his very encouraging return at Ascot. And he is a horse that would definitely prefer better ground. But this smaller field may well suit him better, he is unpenalised, and that Ascot run, and notably his Kempton win last season, showed us what a good horse he is when he puts it altogether. It does look a very hot Graduation chase though, it has to be said.

1.50pm

Kobrouk

He won a few in France but he was far too keen at Aintree on his debut for us back in April, so we were very satisfied with his comeback run over hurdles at Huntingdon last month, his first start after a summer wind op. He is 5lb higher over fences, but hopefully that is more than justified, and his French form suggests this very deep ground will play to his strengths. 

2.25pm

L’Ami Serge

Quite obviously we are all likely to be playing for second place if Paisley Park runs his race, but maybe heavy ground is not ideal for him, and that could give the rest of us hope. My horse hasn’t been seen since injuring a tendon in the French Champion Hurdle over 18 months ago, but apparently this has been the plan for him for a while, and we know he handles testing conditions well, and his Grade 1 Aintree win in 2018 was clearly a high-class effort. He can also boast a win and two seconds from three starts at the course, including when runner-up to Sam Spinner in this race in 2017, and his record shows he goes well when fresh. So we could be best placed to benefit if the favourite underperforms.

3.00pm

Kildisart

Ben’s horses have clearly not been firing on all cylinders of late, but he has had a recent winner and we are all keen to see Kildisart run a big race for the yard here. Fourth in that strong JLT and an impressive winner off a mark of 148 at Aintree afterwards, he had his work cut out against Lostinstranslation first-time-up at Carlisle, but hopefully that run will have brought him on, and this longer trip will suit on a course where he has won twice and run well in defeat.  He faces no easy task off a mark of 155 on this ground, but hopefully he can be competitive.

3.35pm

French Crusader

This will be by far the deepest ground he has run in, so he has questions to answer on that front. And the handicapper could have been easier on him, having raised him 4lb for a 6-length defeat at Newbury on his reappearance. But the winner, Epatante, looks a serious prospect and I was delighted with my horse on his first start for over a year there, and we did finish clear of the third. If he handles the heavy ground, then I think he has a big run in him on just his eighth start.

Unibet are paying AN EXTRA PLACE on this race. T&Cs apply and are here.