Ascot Saturday Preview - 21/11/20

The first race of the day at Ascot on Saturday is the Novices' Hurdle over 2 miles 5 furlongs and the inform Paul Nicholls fields the likeable Southfield Harvest.

With only four runners going to post it could turn the event into quite a tactical fair but on ability alone our selection looks to be the one to beat.

Having been a smart bumper horse in 2019, he made his debut over fences in January and finished a good second at Wincanton and off the back of that got off the mark for the first time in a three mile event at Ludlow.

Staying seems to be his game, so he may want further than this in the future but for a seasonal opener it looks more than winnable, especially with the gelding handling the conditions.

The first chasing event of the day sees the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over three miles and Hold That Taught for Venetia Williams looks to be a potential improver.

The five year old ran to a fair level over hurdles last season, but was always set to be a chaser in the making and proved that on his seasonal debut this term.

On his first start over the bigger obstacles he finished a close second of eight runners in a similar event at Lingfield, staying out the trip well and it would be a surprise if he did not come on for that run in this event.

The Mares Handicap Hurdle looks a competitive affair over a staying distance and Hotter Than Hell for the inform Alan King could have a say if handling the step up in trip.

The six year old mare has ran to a credible level over hurdles of late, placing in three of her last five events including last time out at Wincanton.

She has been seen three times this year and has been in the frame on all of her runs and with a handy 5lb claimer taking some weight off, this new trip could be the making of her.

One of the feature races on the Ascot card is the Grade Two 1965 Chase over 2m5f and Imperial Aura for Kim Bailey takes the eye for us.

The seven year old last season rose through the chasing ranks, racing four times at Cheltenham placing in two smart events before going on to win another two.

One of those wins came at the festival in the 20 runner Listed Novices' Handicap Chase and the form line he holds has been franked by many horses throughout last season.

The superstar stepped up for his seasonal debut at Carlisle last week in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Listed Chase up against some proven chasers.

However, the gelding showed massive improvement to land the event and now his handler is stepping him up to Grade Two company on Saturday.

Call Me Lord finished second in the Coral Hurdle on seasonal debut last term and he has a huge chance to go one better this year heading into the event off the back of a run and for that reason is our selection.

The seven year old old has been a consistent horse for the Seven Barrows yard since joining from from France a few years ago and last term was magnificent in the early part of the season.

He started his campaign off in this race in November finishing second to If The Cap Fits who went on to land the race for two consecutive years.

He then headed to Cheltenham for his second start in the Grade Two International Hurdle and he stayed on best of the rest up the hill to take the race.

The gelding, after a superb win went to Sandown as a final run before the Champion Hurdle at the festival and finished second behind Grade One winner Quel Destin.

The Champion Hurdle was just too much for the gelding, being outclassed in a race that did not suit him and it saw him finish near the back of the field.

He was 3/1 in the week which looked huge value against hurdlers who have something to prove and now being fit after his first run of the season, he could be the winner of this race.

With no selection in the bumper, our final pick for the day at Ascot comes in the Class 2 Handicap Chase and the Kim Bailey trained First Flow takes the eye.

The more rain the better for this horse who has been a model of consistency for the yard, being a smart horse over hurdles, but since going over the bigger obstacles has a record of four wins in eight races.

At the back end of last term the gelding went on to land a hat-trick of wins at Leicester, Doncaster and Carlisle and the eight year old should have more to offer this term.