Ascot Saturday Preview - 18/01/2020

The first race of the day at Ascot Is the Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle over two miles and there only looks to be one winner in this contest if running to form and that is the Gary Moore trained Goshen.

The four year old has really turned some heads on both his runs over hurdles so far this season winning by a shared 57 lengths over both his runs at Fontwell and Sandown and is now the 7/1 joint favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

His trainer Moore has been left in a very difficult situation after he planned on giving Goshen his final run before the festival at Huntingdon but now will entered him in this contest Ascot.

The youngster, although not being the smartest of jumpers over his obstacles has looked a serious athlete with plenty of pace on the flat and if getting through this contest on the weekend has to have a big chance in the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at Prestbury Park.

NO BET

It is set to be a real slog for these horses at Ascot tomorrow with 11mm of rain falling overnight making the ground heavy and a horse that will love those conditions is the Noel Williams trained Sensulano.

In the Grade Two Mares Hurdle we think this seven year old can flourish although it might be a step up from the races she has been in this season she looks a big improver in muddy conditions.

She has raced three times finishing second on her seasonal debut but in her last two runs has been very difficult to pass winning at Fontwell and Warwick and seeking the hat-trick here she should go well again.

The Holloway's Handicap Hurdle sees a lot of nearly horses enter the frame but the one that takes the eye with the potential he holds is the Paul Nicholls trained Pic D‘orhy.

This five year old was a leading French juvenile last season winning frequently over at Auteuil and then he was given to Paul Nicholls who gave him his first run at the Cheltenham festival where he truly was thrown in at the deep end.

Since then he has been back to France where he looked to be mounting a challenge but unfortunately fell and if learning from that mistake should be right in the mix.

The bet365 Handicap Chase over two miles five furlongs sees a decent field of runners got to post and with that in mind we have two selections.

The first is the favourite for Venetia Williams and Espoir De Gueye looks a highly progressive chaser and will revel in the heavy conditions seeking a hat-trick after winning at Exeter and Ascot last time out.

The other fancy we have at a bigger price and advertised to be backed each way is Allysson Montberg for trainer Richard Hobson and this veteran is another who loves heavy conditions and should come on for his wind operation.

The big race of the weekend is the Grade One Clarence House Chase at Ascot and even with a small field there is a star studded line up and Defi Du Seuil looks the one to beat.

Philip Hobbs' superstar is back seeking another Grade One victory to add to his illustrious career already and he has a huge chance in what will be one of the toughest races of his season.

This term he has raced twice and is still unbeaten after scoring on his seasonal debut in the Grade Two Shloer Chase and then he backed that up by landing the third Grade One of his career in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

He is set to renew his rivalry with the superb veteran Un De Sceaux who he narrowly beat at Sandown before the turn of the year and the thought of them two been locked in a battle up the run in is what we all love racing for.

However, we feel that the younger Defi Du Seuil has more scope and has a larger will to win than the 12 year old and it should be a perfect stepping stone before the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

The final contest of the afternoon is the hot Novices Hurdle over two miles five furlongs and this race could be a stepping stone for some horses heading to the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.

This six year old for Colin Tizzard has some decent form when finishing second behind a gelding on debut and then again he placed in a nice event not quite finishing his race off well.

He has now been given a wind operation and also has the addition of a tongue tie on for Saturday's race which could just bring him on nicely.