ITV Saturday Preview From Haydock And Ascot

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 Grade Two Supreme Trial Novices Hurdle has truly fell apart but in this four runner event we fancy the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Stolen Silver.

This five year old was a wide margin winner on his second start of the season putting things right after unseating his rider on his debut over hurdles at Cheltenham.

He headed back to jumps racing HQ last time out when taking the highly rated Chantry House all the way to the line in a decent Novices Hurdle and that looks some strong form.

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.

One of the feature contests on the card at Haydock is the big fielded Peter Marsh Handicap Chase that has been won by some smart horses in previous renewals.

This year we fancy the Anthony Honeyball trained Midnight Tune who looks to be a very useful mare who has won her last two novice chases in great style.

She steps into a handicap for the first time and her mark looks workable enough to see her go well especially for how unexposed she is.

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.

Its one Grade Two after another at Haydock and the big hurdles contest of the day is the The New One Hurdle which is seen as the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle trial.

Darasso for trainer Joseph O'Brien enters the frame off the back of his last two runs when winning a nice Grade Three over at Gowran Park in February and following that up over fences in a Grade two at Navan.

This seven year old is having his first run over the season switching back over to hurdles which could be the making of him especially in heavy ground which truly brings the best out of him.

He is proven at going well fresh and has only been waited on coming back to racing this late as he had an extended summer off.

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.