Katie Midwinter (16/02/23)
Last Saturday was a successful day for selections, as Chris Gordon continued his excellent run of form to record a double on the card at Newbury.
Annual Invictus (7/1) was sent off at 6/1, whilst Aucunrisque (16/1) returned at an SP of 9/1 in the Betfair Hurdle. Both were selected in last week’s “Saturday Selections”, and made it a thrilling day of racing in the National Hunt discipline.
This weekend there are interesting cards at both Ascot and Haydock, as well as the Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
The feature race of the day comes at Ascot where Irish-raider Fakir D’Oudairies bids to retain his crown in the Ascot Chase.
Shishkin steps up in trip in an attempt to rediscover some of his flair and return to winning ways. This is his first run after wind surgery and he wears a first-time tongue tie. If able to show improvement over this further distance, he is certainly the class horse in the field.
Pic D’Orhy remains unbeaten this season but is yet to face opposition the calibre of the two formidable rivals that head the market here. He is progressive but will need a career best performance to topple the reigning champion and beat superstar Shishkin.
ASCOT
2:25pm – Swinley Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
The Wolf 20/1 (EW) – Olly Murphy, A P Heskin
Favourite Cap Du Nord is one to watch in these big handicaps on good ground. With conditions to suit at Ascot, he is likely to be in contention now back off his last winning mark of 127.
At a bigger price The Wolf is perhaps an each-way alternative. Blinkers stay on the Olly Murphy-trained gelding who can be frustrating to follow at times. He has been dropped 3lbs for his run at Musselburgh when last seen and should be able to be competitive off a mark of 132.
There could be a big performance to come from him, but he will need to brush up on his jumping and show more tenacity. The drop back in trip should allow him to see out the race better than he did in the Edinburgh National, and a price of 20/1, already shortened from 25/1, represents decent value.
3:00pm – Class 2 Handicap Hurdle
Samarrive 12/1 (EW) – Paul Nicholls, Freddie Gingell (7)
Paul Nicholls-trained Irish Hill currently heads the market and appears to have obvious claims as he attempts a hat-trick of wins. An interesting contender is Zoffany Boy, returning after a 700-day absence as he makes his debut for the Peter Fahey yard.
Aidan Coleman takes the ride aboard the gelding who was last seen winning a Listed handicap at Auteuil. He’s currently priced at 13/2 and could be thrown in off a mark of 122.
Samarrive carries top-weight, rated 143, but Freddie Gingell claims a useful 7lbs which could help his cause. He suffered a nasty fall at the track in October when going best of all and perhaps needed the run last time out to regain some confidence.
At Kempton he jumped poorly and that made the difference in a three-runner field. The better ground and step back up in trip will suit and there could be more to come from him now back over hurdles.
HAYDOCK
2:40pm – Grand National Trial Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
Notachance 11/1 (EW) – Alan King, Tom Cannon
Notachance has run well in two races this season and finds himself 7lbs lower than his last winning mark. The better ground could be suited and, since he won’t be following up with a trip to Aintree, this could be one of his targeted races.
Popular grey Bristol De Mai faces a tough task at the weights and will have to carry 12st to victory. Although he is a Haydock specialist, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding enjoys a tough test of stamina in soft ground and is unlikely to get his desired conditions here.
THE CONDITIONAL 
some great insights here Katie, thank you!
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