GOOD form on the two-mile, one-furlong chase track at Ascot is usually a big asset to take into a race run on the two-mile, one-furlong chase track at Ascot. Boothill won the Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot in early November last year, then came onto the Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Chase on this day last year and, racing off a 6lb higher mark, won that as well.

Frere D’Armes and Triple Trade filled the minor places behind Boothill in today’s race last year, and they are both back today to try to improve their respective positions. Triple Trade went back to Ascot again afterwards last season, and, at the Long Walk Hurdle meeting just before Christmas, and stepping up to two miles and three furlongs, he won nicely.

His season flattened out a little after that last term, and he was well beaten on his debut this season at Cheltenham’s October meeting but, back down to a handicap rating of 132, 3lb lower than he was last year, he is interesting.

You also have to have a second look at Frere D’Armes, racing off a mark of 125, 8lb lower than last year’s mark, but he was well beaten in the Byrne Group Chase three weeks ago, and he is going to have to do a fair bit better today if he is going to be involved. Martator is two for two now at Ascot, over today’s course and distance, he is progressive, he has now won his last four, and he is a logical favourite for today’s race.

Impressive in winning at Ascot in March off a mark of 122, and even more impressive in winning at Sandown a month later, when he had a below-par Kotmask well behind him, Venetia Williams’ horse kicked off this season by winning the Byrne Group Chase three weeks ago off a mark of 134.

He was good that day too, he travelled up into his race well on the outside, and he quickened up nicely on the run-in to get the better of Issar D’Airy, leaving the impression that he was winning with a little bit in hand.

Big player

He is a big player in today’s race, but he is short. A 6lb hike may not stop him, but it is not ideal that Charlie Deutsch is going to Haydock instead to ride Royal Pagaille in the Betfair Chase. Also, there are reasons for believing that Kotmask can get closer to Martator today than he did last time. He is 2lb better off, but that is neither here nor there. He has been raised by 1lb, but Caoilin Quinn can’t claim his 3lb. More importantly, he didn’t have a great run through the race last time.

He started off in a prominent position, but he ended up dropping into the field a little and racing in traffic. He was fairly badly hampered too at the sixth fence, when he jumped into the back of a rival. That was at a crucial stage of the race when positioning was important.

He got in tight to the second last fence too and, while Martator finished off his race well on the near side, Kotmask was finishing off strongly too on the far side.

The Moores’ horse should improve on that run too, his seasonal debut. He improved from his first to his second run in each of his last two seasons racing, he ran out an impressive winner of a handicap chase at Plumpton on his second run last season. Also, that was his first run over fences at Ascot, he could have learned from that, he could jump the upright fences a little more fluently today.

As well as all that, the pace should be strong today with Sans Bruit in the race, probably stronger than it was last time, and that will be a positive for Kotmask. He just got a little out-paced last time as they raced to the home turn and, a winner over almost two and a half miles on soft ground, a stronger pace could set the race up nicely for him. Slightly softer ground would help him too.

Haydock handicap

It looks like the ground is going to be soft at Haydock, if the forecast is correct, and that could render the ground ideal for Jody Ted, who appears to have been under-rated by the market in the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.

Eoin Griffin’s horse raced just three times last season, he won a handicap chase at Limerick on his debut before winning the Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown on this weekend last year. Sent off as favourite for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas on the back of that run, he unseated early on. He hasn’t raced since.

He goes well fresh though. He won that Limerick chase on his debut last year, and he was travelling well in front on his debut at Cork in 2022 when he departed at the second last fence. Also, he won his maiden hurdle at Wexford in March 2021 on his first run back after a break.

He used to be a better chaser than hurdler, but his respective ratings in each code reflected that, and connections made use of that discrepancy when they sent him to Punchestown last November to win that Pertemps qualifier.

He will race off a British mark of 130 today, which is 15lb higher than the Irish mark off which he won that day, but it is only 3lb higher than his current Irish hurdles mark, and it is actually 4lb lower than his current Irish chase mark.

It might still under-rate his ability over hurdles. Three miles on soft ground at Haydock should suit him well, and Mark McDonagh is good value for his 3lb claim.

It’s a good race, a really competitive race. It usually is. And Doyen Quest is a worthy favourite. He did well to win last time at Cheltenham as well as he did, coming from the rear off a moderate pace.

He is a well-handicapped horse too, he is 5lb well-in under his 5lb penalty, and a reproduction of that Cheltenham form would surely take him close.

But it is a different test today, Haydock on soft ground (probably) versus Cheltenham on good, and he has only had a break of seven days. He may not be invincible.

Recommended

Kotmask 3.20 Ascot

1pt win 7/1 (generally)

Jody Ted 2.30 Haydock

1pt e/w 22/1 (generally)