Ascot Saturday

1:30 Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase (Grade 2) 2m 5f 8y

The first in a series of no-bet races on a curate’s egg of a day. If Shishkin is in the form he was when beating Pic d’Orhy by 16 lengths in the Ascot Chase over course and distance, he will be unstoppable. But, the fact that Nicky Henderson reaches for cheekpieces suggests that the gelding has been getting idle at home, and he took little interest in the Tingle Creek on last year’s return.

He certainly deserves to be a warm favourite, but his increasing laziness is enough of a concern to stop me getting involved at around 4/6.

2:05 Coral Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) 2m 3f 58y

Goshen was back to form when finishing a neck second of five to Knappers Hill in the two mile and five furlongs Select Hurdle at Sandown in April, where he had Theatre Glory a length and a quarter behind in third.

The pair meet on similar terms here, but while Goshen has since disappointed when well supported for the Cesarewitch, Theatre Glory has kept her powder dry.

My view of the Sandown race was that Nicky Henderson’s mare was ill-suited by dictating a steady pace, which left her vulnerable to the finishers, but she kept on well enough and shouldn’t have to do the donkey work here.

She impressed when landing a listed mares’ hurdle at Warwick in February, and a repeat of that should be good enough to win unless Goshen is at his very best, which must be doubtful after his latest poor showing.

3:15 Jim Barry Hurst Park Handicap Chase 2m 167y

Once again, a previous clash between two of the leading fancies could prove the key piece of form.

The last time Aucunrisque ran over fences, he was beaten a length by Boothill in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas. He went on to win the Betfair Hurdle on his next start, but is able to meet his conqueror on 11lb better terms for that narrow defeat.

It’s worth mentioning that on his chase debut he beat the recent Old Roan winner Jetoile, although it would be remiss not to mention that he was beaten by Frere d’Armes in between when conceding that rival 10lb, and the latter is 1lb better off ignoring the claim of Tristan Durrell. Strictly speaking, Frere d’Armes comes out on top in this collateral form comparison, but he has finished weakly on his most recent outings when fitted with a tongue strap.

He is dangerous if coming on from his recent fifth behind Boothill over course and distance, but he looked fit enough then and found little when the chips were down, which makes him hard to warm to despite his sliding mark.

Haydock Saturday

1:15 Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle 2m 2f 191y

Jason The Militant may be a lost cause having fallen so sharply from grace since leaving Henry de Bromhead but he clearly needed his return at Cheltenham last month, and the handicapper has given him a chance by dropping him by 18lb in four runs for Phil Kirby, with one of those being the Champion Hurdle.

Now racing off what is effectively a mark of 131, the nine-year-old needs to be competitive here to justify his purchase, and he may be worth a small wager at tasty odds to bounce back.

1:50 Betfair Exchange

Graduation Chase 2m 5f 127y

Although Gaillard Du Mesnil has form over much further, he has run well in high-class company around this trip in the past, and his wealth of experience ought to count against a promising pair with one outing over fences between them.

Grey Dawning made a promising start when third to Stay Away Fay at Exeter, but that race was run at a bit of a dawdle, and I’m not sure how his jumping – which looked safe enough at Exeter – will be in a more demanding environment.

2:20 Betfair “Serial Winners” Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle

3m 58y

I’ve had two horses in mind for this race for some time, but the value has already been squeezed out of Crambo, who is the likeliest winner assuming he stays three miles, but makes limited appeal at cramped odds with that question unanswered.

Lord Snooty is also of interest in a race of this nature, but was put in very short when the market opened and has a bit to prove with his stable far from firing on all cylinders.

The most obvious value in the market at present is with the revived Emitom, who lost the plot for Warren Greatrex, but has looked a straightforward conveyance in two runs for Alan King.

He ran well when two lengths second of 11 to Young Butler in a Pertemps Qualifier at Newbury just over a fortnight ago, pulling clear of the third, and he looks well treated off the same mark.

A Grade 2 winner over course and distance in his prime, he’s perhaps not the force of old, but is clearly in good enough form to get heavily involved here, and looks excellent each-way value with track, trip and ground clearly no problem. Alan King has been firing in the winners in recent days, too, so he looks an attractive option on a tricky betting day.

3:00 Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) 3m 1f 125y

Protektorat didn’t get the praise he deserved for winning this contest a year ago due to the poor run of A Plus Tard, but he beat some smart chasers pointless that day, and is a bigger danger to Bravemansgame than the odds available imply.

The latter is marginally the likelier winner on paper given his very best performances are in advance of Protektorat’s, but Dan Skelton’s star will be fully geared up for his defence, and I think he can push Bravemansgame to the limit.

3:35 Betfair “Free Racing Multiple Today” Handicap Chase 3m 1f 125y

Eleanor Bob is returning from a lengthy absence having fallen at Fontwell when last seen, but given the stable she represents, it would be no surprise to see her make a winning return and she’s certainly young enough to have more to offer.

The Venetia Williams bandwagon rolls along, and the trainer was 10-26 with her chasers in November at the time of declarations. The selection won easily at Huntingdon on her penultimate start, and fitness is unlikely to be an issue on her seasonal return. The danger is likely to be Docpickedme, who shaped like a surefire winner when a head second of 7 to Enqarde in a handicap chase at Warwick on his first start for Richard Hobson. Formerly with Harry Whittington, he remains on a winnable mark, and should give another good account.

Emitom 2:25 Haydock – 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (Bet365, 12/1 general – 5 places)

Aucunrisque 3:15 Ascot – 2pts win @ 13/2 (Hills, 6/1 general)