Ascot Saturday Preview - 30/10/21

The first race of the day at Ascot on Saturday is the Novices' Handicap Chase and the horse that we are taking a chance on is the Gary Moore trained Nassalam.

The four year old son of Dream Well was an exciting french recruit for the yard last term making his UK debut at Fontwell when winning by 59 lengths.

He then went back over the same course and distance for another Juvenile Hurdle and was just as impressive winning by 49 lengths.

Obviously holding bundles of ability he was pitched straight into Grade One company and ran a valiant race to finish second to the smart Adagio at Chepstow.

Dropped back in class hoping to get back to winning ways he bumped into the Grade One winning Monmiral who beat him by close to eight lengths.

Nassalam was last seen finishing 10th of 22 at the Cheltenham festival in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle running a solid race.

It is interesting to see him going over fences this term and if kicking on from his early hurdles form he could be a smart prospect.

Next up is the Listed Handicap Hurdle over two miles and we like the look of the Harry Fry trained Boothill who makes his first appearance for close to a year but from what we have seen to date he could be very special.

A forgotten horse, he made a big impression on his hurdles debut last season and having not been seen since then could be anything this term.

The son of Presenting made a lovely start to his career in a point to point when a three length second behind a nice Irish horse.

Just 20 days later, again he was a nice second in another P2P and from there he was bought and given to Fry to train in the UK.

Making his rules debut in February 2020, he got off the mark at the first time of asking in a decent bumper where he saw off the smart Bothwell Bridge by close to five lengths.

Waited on until December to make his hurdles debut he went to Taunton over two miles and was an emphatic winner of Novices' Hurdle.

Having not been seen since then he seems to be a horse with bundles of potential that we are only scratching the surface with.

The Listed Handicap Chase over two miles looks a cracking affair and although harbouring some extra weight this term, Sully D'Oc AA for Anthony Honeyball is an improving animal.

Starting his season off at this meeting last term in the Novices' Handicap Chase he was a very smart winner of 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 rival Editeur Du Gite.

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

Racing today off a mark of 147 he will have to be better than ever, but he still looks to be progressing and we have yet to find his ceiling.

Might be a risky bet off his weight but we believe in this horse, especially at this track.

The feature event on the card at Ascot is the London Gold Cup over three miles and the horse that takes our eye at the weights is Tom Lacey's Johnbb.

The seven year old has a progressive profile and for is age is still. very unexposed, especially over staying trips.

Making his seasonal debut last season in November at Wetherby he was an easy winner of a 2m3f Handicap Chase by four lengths.

Back over the same course and distance in a tougher event he unfortunately fell and was given close to four months off the track.

Returning at Aintree in April he stepped up to 3m1f and put in an excellent performance to finish a narrow second to the highly talented Happygolucky for Kim Bailey.

Running off only 3lb higher for this event makes him a player, especially receiving weight from most of his rivals.

The penultimate event on the card is the two mile Novice Hurdle and Peking Rose for trainer Fergal O'Brien looks a very exciting prospect for a thriving yard.

The six year old was unleashed for the first time last term in a bumper at Carlisle when winning in fine style.

He then stepped up to Listed company at Ascot and finished a close up fourth of six behind the smart types, Knappers Hill, Stage Star and Wonderwall.

Surprisingly he was 50/1 for the Grade Two Aintree bumper when last seen but ran a superb race to split the Paul Nicholls pair he had already finished behind to finish second.

Now making his hurdles debut he makes big appeal and should go close.

The final event of the afternoon is the Class 4 bumper over two miles and the horse that we are siding with is Estacas for German trainer Andreas Wohler.

The four year old son of Galileo is making his debut in this sphere on Saturday with the booking of Jamie Moore being a very shrewd one with the jockey running at a 31% strike rate for the last week.

Wohler is another shrewd operator currently running at a 100% strike rate for the last fortnight and when having runners in England having had 17 runners in the UK during his career and he has acquired four winners and place, which is remarkable form.