Ascot Saturday Preview

The first race of the day at Ascot sees a very competitive handicap hurdle take place over three miles and the horse that takes the eye at a nice price is Poppa Poutine.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained runner has a big chance in this event having taken well to hurdles this season should really enjoy his first spin round this track.

The four year old made his debut at Perth back in September finishing a nice third of eight runners and then after that was sent to Cheltenham where he found a few to good in a novices' hurdle.

Given a little break the gelding returned this month at Southwell on his second try at three miles and won nicely on his handicap debut, suggesting this is the road to go down.

Although up 6lb for that run it should not be enough to stop his progression and having ran well on this ground in a point to point he should handle it again.

Only four runners venture forward for the Graduation Chase over 2m5f and the leading candidate seems to be the Nicky Henderson trained Caribean Boy.

The six year old has been very lightly raced over the years, only having three starts for the and performing to a high standard in all of them, with one place and two wins.

He made his chase debut in January of this year and finished a good third behind some nice types and then backed that up a month later when getting off the mark at Haydock.

He was first seen again in November, shrewdly being put into a novices chase by his trainer and going on to beat Fiddlerontheroof to land the Grade Two event.

Now dropping out of that company he will have to step up again, but he looks a big improving type that the yard have only had good words to say about.

It could be a big day for Philip Hobbs on Saturday and before the big one he has a big chance of landing the winner in the handicap chase with Smarty Wild.

The six year old is a value each way contender at 8/1 having ran to a good standard on both his outings this term, being in and around the frame in similar events.

Having made the change to fences this term, he started his season off at Ascot over the same course and distance when finishing a good third behind two smart runners that have franked the form since.

Next time out he was dropped in trip and it did not suit him aswell as this distance does today and heading back to a track he likes should make him interesting.

The feature race on the card is the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle over three miles and Thyme Hill for Richard Johnson is our selection to extend his superb formline.

The six year old gelding was remarkable last season winning three of his four contests in great style and showing a clear staying ability.

He started his life over hurdles at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle and seeing off some smart youngsters that have since gone on to frank that form including Grade One winner Fiddlerontheroof.

The gelding then went to Cheltenham in the Grade Two Ballymore Novices Hurdle and again put in a strong winning run to enhance his credentials in this division.

He was destined for big things off the back of his third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season and fulfilled his potential for the term when landing the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

He was then sent back to Cheltenham in March for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and although suffering his first defeat over hurdles, he was a narrow fourth in a very hot Grade One.

The form of that race has worked out with the first, second and third since coming out and winning on their seasonal debuts.

Coming out of novice company on seasonal debut many were apprehensive as to how Thyme Hill would handle taking seasoned staying horses on first time out, but he was superb landing the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

The gelding saw off strong challenges from Paisley Park and McFabulous and it looks as though he will have to do it again on Saturday, seeking his second Grade One win of his career.

The penultimate event of the day is the Listed Handicap Chase over three miles and the Venetia Williams trained Espoir De Gueye is a horse that oozes class.

The six year old has been a great recruit for the yard over the years really coming into his own in 2019 when sent over fences for the first time.

Having finished second on debut at Chepstow over two miles behind Cheltenham festival winner Simply The Betts, he then stepped up in trip at Exeter and got off the mark.

Staying at that trip he landed another nice race at Ascot beating First Flow who has since gone on to be a star over fences.

Having been pulled up at the Cheltenham festival, he made his seasonal return at November at the Berkshire track and landed a nice event over 2m5f.

Although up in the weights the gelding steps up in trip again and the further he has gone the better he has been, especially at a track he has a great record at.

The final event of the afternoon is a very hot Grade Three Handicap Hurdle over two miles and with a decent amount of runners heading to post we have two each way punts.

The shorter price of the two is the Nicky Henderson trained Time Flies By, who at the weights look to have a serious chance getting over a stone from stablemate Buzz.

He was hit and miss over hurdles last time having shown plenty of ability on bumper debut, and he made a good return this season over 2m3f at Ascot in November finishing second to a smart one for Paul Nicholls.

The drop down in trip is a big plus today and getting that pull in the weights makes him a big player on ground he has won on before.

At a slightly bigger price and also getting weight off most of the field is the Philip Hobbs trained Oakley who could round off the day nicely for the trainer.

The seven year old is a bit of a handicap specialist having run in these races for the last two seasons and after some lesser performances he is now on what looks a good mark for this horse.

Having neither here nor there in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival, he made his seasonal return at Wetherby in October and finished a good third.

He runs in this race off a mark of 137 which should be workable enough especially in heavy ground which he should handle.