Ascot Saturday Preview - 20/11/21

The first event of the day is the Novices' Hurdle over 2m 5 1/2f and we are siding with the Paul Nicholls trained Flemenstide.

This six year old makes the step up to hurdles havuing been a decent bumper prospect last term, finishing a good second on debut behind a nice type for Nicky Henderson, he then got off the mark at Exeter in a smart event.

Looking to make it back to back wins he was last seen putting in a poor run at Ayr, but we are putting that down to a bad day at the office.

The £325,000 purchase is a very exciting prospect that is thought vert highly of.

The second event of the afternoon at Ascot is the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over three miles and we fancy the Fergal O'Brien trained Ask A Honey Bee.

The seven year old gelding was a smart hurdler last term, but seems to be a much better chaser to date, running creditably on both of his outings this season.

Starting in October at Uttoxeter he was a length second behind a nice type over 2m7f and then last time out was beaten again into second by the Paul Nicholls trained Threeunderthrufive.

That horse has since gone on to boost the form by winning a better race under a penalty at Cheltenham and that looks some strong form.

The feature event of the afternoon is the 1965 Christy Chase and we are given a chance to the superstar of old Lostintranslation for the inform Colin Tizzard.

The nine year old two seasons ago started his term off at Carlisle when landing the Intermediate Chase in fine style which set him up perfectly for a tilt at the Betfair Chase against two time winner Bristol De Mai.

Having the run under his belt made the difference as he went on to stay on better than the Nigel Twiston-Davies horse up the straight and it saw him land his first black type event out of novice company.

Last season, without the run before the Betfair Chase and the heavy conditions it saw Bristol De Mai reverse the form and overall Tizzard's horse gave a very below par performance.

In December of that year Lostintranslation headed to Kempton on Boxing Day for the King George VI Chase and nothing went right for him throughout the race with his jumping ultimately letting him down and he was pulled up before the finish.

Having had a wind op he returned next time out in the Denman Chase and looked like he needed the run when only seventh of the nine.

It was another poor ending for the gelding when last seen in the Gold Cup when being pulled up before the second last.

However, now having had a second wind op and back down in trip, if back to his best he looks to have a big chance.

Risky bet but still holds huge ability.

The Grade Two Coral Hurdle is a quality event every season and this year's renewal looks no different, with that in mind we are selecting the superstar Goshen.

An enigma of a horse to say the least. Goshen ascended the ranks of the juveniles last season only to break hearts, accumulators and place-pots alike with his final flight mistake in the Triumph Hurdle. 

Gary Moore’s five year old has a stiff task on his hands giving away 7lb to the girls in the field.

A couple of spins on the flat saw him come sixth of six and third of seven, bitterly disappointing for one with such a lofty reputation.

He then slipped further in expectations when trailing home last in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December. The bubble looked burst. 

But, a 70 day break Goshen returned at Wincanton in late February in the Kingwell hurdle and bounced back to form in style.

A 22 length procession saw him blitz the field and come home at a canter, with the deep ground playing to his strengths.

Well backed for the Champion Hurdle after that, everything went wrong for him on the day pulling Jamie Moore nearly off the track and ultimately costing him any chance and he then went to the Punchestown festival and again disappointed.

Overall, Goshen is a horse with immense talent and if getting him on a going day over this longer trip, he could bounce back to form in a big way.

The final selection of the afternoon from the Berkshire track is the Anthony Honeyball trained Sully D'Oc AA who does need to improve from his seasonal debut but looks a big price for his talent.

Starting his season off at Ascot last term in the Novices' Handicap Chase he was a very smart winner off a mark of 125.

Having had a superb season, finishing a good third at Newbury in a tough handicap and then running another credible eighth at the Cheltenham festival, he then dropped down to two miles at Aintree and was a narrow second to the impressive Editeur Du Gite.

Up to a mark of 137 he went over to Ireland for an expensive handicap at the Punchestown festival and landed the 19 runner affair in taking style.

He made his seasonal debut this term over today's course and distance and looked to desperately need the run off a mark of 147.

Dropped 2lb for that run he looks an attractive each way player in this race.