Ascot Sunday Preview - 28/03/21

The first race of the day sees a Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and hot off the back of a win at the Cheltenham festival, Lorcan Williams takes 3lb off Ecco.

The Paul Nicholls trained six year old has been in very consistent form this term with two wins and two seconds in his last four outings.

Having won a jumpers bumper two starts ago, he then went back over hurdles and was a good second at Kempton over 2m5f behind Hometown Boy.

He has been hiked up 3lb by the handicapper for that run but with Williams taking that off with his claim, he essential goes in this off the same weight and getting his good ground should see the gelding go close.

The second race of the day at Ascot sees some familiar faces take each other on again and Cascova for Nicky Henderson looks to have been gifted a chance to get off the mark this term.

Having been pulled up on debut this six year old bounced back to form when a good second at Newbury behind the likeable Good Ball for Paul Nicholls.

He then went to Exeter where he ran no sort of race, but again bounced back last time out when a close second at Newbury over 2m4f.

The form of that race has since been franked with the fourth winning on chase debut in the week and only taking on three runners gives him a huge chance.

With no bet in the third race of the day, next up is the Class 2 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and Siroco Jo for Paul Nicholls takes the eye in Frodon's colours.

The four year old gelding offers some of the best form in this race, being seen three times to date and showing clear ability of late.

Having been bought from France, he made his debut in December at Kempton where he did not handle the soft conditions and ran no sort of race.

He was a given a break and came back in early March to get off the mark in fine style at Newbury in a similar event to this.

On Sunday the gelding makes his handicap debut and off a mark of 116 he should be in the mix.

We move onto the Class 3 Handicap Chase over 2m5f and Another Crick for Noel Williams deserves another chance.

The eight year old has been threatening all season to win a race like this having been knocking on the door in all three of his starts.

He made his seasonal debut in December having been off the track for over 18 months and finished a good second at Uttoxeter over hurdles behind Lord Of Kekrak.

Sent back over fences for the first time since February 2019, he finished a good fourth of 12 at Warwick behind Two For Gold and Aso.

Last time out at Newbury on good ground he made up late ground to finish sixth of 14 in the Grade Three Greatwood Gold Cup and that form sets the standard in this race in the same conditions.

The penultimate event of the afternoon at the Berkshire track is the Veterans' Handicap Chase over three miles and the horse that took the eye last time out was Activial.

The 11 year old is weighted to go close in this if being able to run to the same standard as his third at Doncaster last time out.

The grey jumped supremely well and stayed on near the end of the three miles and getting his good ground again should see him run another solid race.

The final event of the afternoon is the three mile Open Hunters' Chase and there only looks to be one winner of this event with Alcala for Paul Nicholls looking the one to be on.

The gelding although carrying top weight offers far better form than the field has shown this term, having raced twice and not finished outside the top two.

The 11 year old made his seasonal debut at Musselburgh over 3m2f and was a good second behind a smart type, and last time out backed that up over the same course and distance when winning easily.

The good ground will suit him and it should be a procession on form.