Ascot Friday Jumps Preview

The first race of the day sets the tone for the whole meeting with the Grade Two Jacquart Noel Novices' Chase over 2 mile 5 furlongs and Angel's Breath looks very tough to beat.

Nicky Henderson's chaser heads back to the track over this further distance in another small fielded event that only sees one other runner he will have to beat.

As a hurdler the grey looked to have a bright future but never really followed through with his potential, but being back at Ascot makes him a big player on Friday with two races and two wins at the Berkshire track in his career.

We are looking for a quick-fire Nicky Henderson double at Ascot on Friday with the second race seeing us fancy Beyonsthestorm for Cheveley Park Stud.

The six year old gelding is very unexposed for his age only racing three times and two of them coming in rules events so he should be a big improver.

He was unleashed for the season at Chepstow back in November finishing fourth in a Maiden hurdle with the winner that day since going on to frank the form and win easily again.

The Novices Limited Handicap Chase over two miles looks a highly competitive event and we have sided with the Mags Mullins trained Debuchet.

This six year old gelding first really came on the seen when finishing runner up in the 2017 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham festival.

However, after that he fell of the boil not winning a single one of his 11 outings over hurdles but now over fences and after scoring on his debut over the bigger obstacles at Fairyhouse he looks a big player again.

Another feature contest on the card is the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices Hurdle and in this four runner Grade Two the Nicky Henderson trained Time Flies By could just be anything.

He is having his first start over hurdles after running well in two bumpers at Cheltenham, one coming in October when winning a Class 2 event and the second in a Listed event finishing a narrow second.

If taking to hurdles straight away he looks to have a big chance going for a top yard and super connections of J P McManus.

Saint De Reve for Paul Nicholls looks a really exciting runner for the yard on Friday and even though he is top weight in the Conditional Jockeys event he has the highly talented Lorcan Williams doing the steering.

The five year old has started this season in fine form with a third on debut at Exeter with the second that day going on to win a better race next time out.

The gelding then got off the mark next time out at Wincanton in a Class 4 event and although this is tougher and in different conditions he looks one of the best horses in the contest.

The final event of the day features a horse we have been following closely this season and it is the Paul Nicholls trained Bravemansgame.

The gelding ran back in March over in Ireland at Lingstown in a point to point and hosed up by seven lengths beating a field of 11 runners, immediately taking to the sport in the three mile event.

From there he was bought for £370,000 at the Cheltenham sales at the festival and was given to 11 time champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

He made his first run at Ascot at the end of November and ran a credible third showing a lot of signs that he will progress and in another tricky field he should go well again.