Ascot Chase Day Tips

The first Grade 1 of the season in Britain for chasers over the intermediate two-and-a-half-mile trip takes place at Ascot on Saturday, in the Ascot Chase.

The race has been won by some greats of the game down the years, including Shishkin and Kauto Star in more recent times. It is the central race in a competitive seven-race card at Ascot. Here are our team's selections in every race.

13:15 – Handicap Hurdle (2m7½f)

The consistent SAMUEL SPADE has been running well in better races than this, most recently when third at Kempton on Boxing Day which is already proving strong form. He was a little disappointing at Windsor last time, but that was under completely different conditions. Back on less testing ground and going right-handed, he should bounce back and run into a place at least.

Selection: Samuel Spade

13:50 – Ebony Horse Club Reynoldstown Novices' Chase (Grade 2, 3m)

When Jingko Blue and LOWRY'S BAR met at Windsor last time, it looked set to be a close-run thing before the latter made a bad mistake three out, costing him vital momentum. He gets a chance for revenge on 5lb better terms and under conditions that will put more emphasis on stamina, which is more likely to suit him than Jingko Blue. The Reynoldstown is a race that is known to produce smart staying chasers of the near future, and that is exactly what Lowry's Bar looks set to become as 2025 progresses.

Selection: Lowry's Bar

14:25 – Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)

While a couple of spills over fences have dissuaded connections from persevering down that route, CLASSIC KING has such a good change of pace that he may always prove a better hurdler anyway. He put a lot of distance into the field in a short time at Doncaster three weeks ago, so it is hard to argue that a 5lb rise in the weights covers how superior he was on the day. The Emma Lavelle yard are coming into a good run of form and Classic King can keep it going.

Selection: Classic King

15:00 – Swinley Handicap Chase (3m)

This race was won last year by THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE, who returns this time still fresh after only one run this season. That was back here in December, where he shaped like the run would bring him on but still managed to finish a creditable third. He has always been fancied as a Grand National type and, with his mark for that historic contest now locked in, he can let loose in a race which he has won before.

Selection: Threeunderthrufive

15:37 – Ascot Chase (Grade 1, 2m5f)

The class angle in the Ascot Chase is L'HOMME PRESSE, who has finished third in the King George and won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in the last seven weeks. He is a little more comfortable going left-handed, but has run plenty of races this way around to suggest he is also effective at right-handed tracks. The shorter trip should not be an issue either, he is most famous as a stayer. The jockeys made a lot of the difference between him and Pic D'orhy last year and Charlie Deutsch can set that right today.

Selection: L'Homme Presse

16:10 – Novices' Hurdle (2m3½f)

With Kingston Pride having bombed out on his most recent run, there is room to take him on with FIRST CONFESSION for the Joe Tizzard yard. The selection also ran poorly last time, but it was in an even higher grade (the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle) and he had clearly been fast-tracked to that race after an impressive win over this course and distance. He is also a point-to-point winner and will be suited by stiff tracks like Ascot while he finds his way to being a stayer in future.

Selection: First Confession

16:45 – Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race (1m7½f)

The form that BELLE LE GRAND has shown in Ireland will likely be good enough to win this race. She is likely to improve, too, having joined a top British jumps yard in that of Dan Skelton in the four months since she won in good style at Fairyhouse. She carries a penalty of just 4lb for that win and that goes nowhere near far enough to equalise the edge she has on her rivals here.

Selection: Belle Le Grand

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation