Horses To Follow On Saturday

The Grade Two Mares' Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday sees a small but decent field head to post and Roksana for the inform Skelton team will take some serious beating.

Having been a shock winner of the Grade One Mares Hurdle in 2019 she has since placed in some nice events at Aintree and Cheltenham.

She went back to defend her crown at Cheltenham in March and could only finish fourth behind some star mares, but that form has since been franked.

Roksana made a credible seasonal debut for the yard when winning the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby in October and backed that up last time out with another big run.

She headed into the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot over three miles and finished a smart third behind Paisley Park and Thyme Hill.

That event looks the strongest form heading into the race and if performing that standard should see off this field.

The feature event at Ascot on Saturday is the Grade One Clarence House Chase over the extended two mile trip and Politologue for Paul Nicholls should make it a hat-trick of Grade One wins.

It was thought that the nine year old would never be able to get back to his best Grade One winning form last year having raced twice before the festival, finishing second of four on debut in the Shloer Chase and then fifth of eight in the Tingle Creek, where again he finished behind Defi Du Seuil.

However, his win in the Champion Chase saw him back to his best and although the big hitters like Altior and Chacun Pour Soi were pulled out of the event which took the shine off the race, the grey was still the best horse on the day and under a superb ride from the front jumped the field into submission

His handler Paul Nicholls believed that his win in that race was not a fluke and with another great preparation he showed just how good he is when landing the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase for the second time in his career, on his seasonal debut.

The British Champion Chase division looks extremely weak this season and with this renewal of the race just that, we think Politologue at an odds against price is big value.

Harry Skelton has been the rider on board for his last two wins and he now jumps off with Harry Cobden given the chance.

The Brian Ellison trained Windsor Avenue is weighted to be a big player in this handicap event, showing clear ability over fences during his career and after some decent runs this term he can now finally get his head in front.

The nine year old gelding was a smart novice last season winning two nice events and although fading out towards the end of the season still retains his potential.

This term the son of Winged Love has been seen three times, finishing a superb second on seasonal debut behind Imperial Aura in a Listed event at Carlisle.

He was then aimed at the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham's December meeting where he never gave his true showing and was pulled up.

He bounced back to better form last time out when third over three miles at Wetherby in a Grade Three event and having been dropped 1lb for that run he looks a live contender in this event.

He is dropping in trip to 2m5f which will suit better than the three miles he ran over last time out and also dropping into a lesser race off a reduced mark can only be a positive.

At 10/1 the gelding is a live each way player and he looks to be a solid ante-post bet for the event.