Friday racing

It may have been a while ago but our wallets should still be bursting after this inspired tip from Paul Jacobs for Cruchain to take the 3.40 at Ascot on December 19th

Ascot Ladbroke Meeting, Friday

A superb opening to the Ladbroke meeting at Ascot with some top class contests and bearing in mind the racing on Saturday it will be interesting to see how the ground rides with a view to gauging the form and possible outcomes on the second day on Saturday.

I think the final race on the card, the staying hurdle at 3.40 over two and three quarter miles has a nice make-up to it.

Harris Bay is handicapped to run well off his present mark and although rising 10 he has not had an awful lot of racing and could play a part if they make this a proper test of stamina. But for me there is a blot on the handicap in the form of Cruchain trained by Jonjo and to be ridden by A.P.

He looked in dire need of further when staying on behind Take the Breeze at Sandown Park and this could be perfect for him off a mark of 117. He is open to plenty of improvement with so few races under his belt and is preferred to his older rival and top weight Nikos Extra.

The most interesting contest in my book is arguably the two and a half mile novice chase due off at 2.30 with all five runners in with a major chance of playing the winning role.

Despite the claims of Deep Purple (wouldn’t want too much rain) and Naiad de Misselot I think that Buck The Legend is the one to be on for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

The six-year-old was always travelling well at Newbury and sailed home on the bridle to win as he pleased. Of course this is more of an acid test with higher rated horses to deal with, but around here his superb jumping will be a major asset and there are question marks in that sphere against some of his rivals.

Panjo Bere travels like a really good horse and is arguably the most economical jumper in the field so is the one I fear most with Deep Purple more likely to show his true worth on a faster surface.

In the 3.05 I shall be taking an early price about Something Wells following his cracking performance when second to Medicinal at Haydock Park.