Prepare For A Sensation

Good morning/evening everyone, I hope the fridge is stocked with plenty of drink and the number for a local curry house is handy as leaving the house today is not an option. First up we are treated to some good English racing from Ascot and Wetherby including the returns of Silviniaco Conti and the exciting Next Sensation. If that isn't enough for you the Breeders Cup hits full stride in the evening carrying you through to the early hours of the morning. So put your feet up, unplug the phone and enjoy a day of racing.

As always @OnTheOtherHoof have previewed the day of racing with just myself and @Adamwebb121 on the panel. However we joined by two American experts for two Breeders Cup previews, you can follow them on Twitter via @ThoroughbredAR and @Chare889. All the links to the videos can be found below and we hope you have an enjoyable day of racing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2nufvceHOE - Breeders Cup Day One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMy_AyJQA64 - Breeders Cup Day Two

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffDwYT6QKGs - UK Race Previews starting at 8pm

2:20 Ascot - Next Sensation - Horse To Follow

The National Hunt season is getting into full flow now and there are a few stars reappearing this weekend, including Next Sensation for Michael Scudamore. You will likely remember him for the wrong reasons as he was caught up the Cheltenham hill when almost making all in the Grand Annual.

Despite getting beat he ran a mighty race that day after being the best part of 20 lengths clear at the top of the hill and having most of the field in trouble. Many people spoke poorly of the ride that Richard Johnson gave him that day, however that is his running style and he had got into such a good rhythm. Saying that he would have likely won if he went half a stride slower so each argument has valid points. All that is irrelevant today as Tom Scudamore takes the ride which can only be seen as a positive as nobody knows the horse better, with all three successes coming in his hands. After the Grand Annual connections took a chance by running him at Aintree, where it was clear that Cheltenham had left his mark and he was well beaten by Balder Succes, that effort is easily forgiven and the summer break will have done him the world of good.

As anyone who has ever seen him run will tell you, his biggest asset is his jumping and mixed with his beloved front running role can make for quite a potent force. Despite never winning after a break he has run well and with strong reports from his home work we take Next Sensation to make a winning return. (4/1)

3:00 Ascot - Violet Dancer

A tentative selection up next with the four year old Violet Dancer for Gary Moore who showed himself to be a more than useful juvenile last season. He does however look a chaser in the making and still has some growing to do, that being said he still possesses plenty of ability as he proved last year. His juvenile campaign began with two victories at Plumpton and Sandown before chasing home Le Rocher and Kentucky Hyden in a Grade One at Chepstow. He looked like a live outside bet for the Triumph Hurdle at that point but connections opted for the Fred Winter, which turned out to be a race to forget. If he was hampered once then he must have been hampered six times throughout the race and in truth did well to finish tenth, after that went onto Aintree which proved a race too much for him.

We have already seen the selection this season when he trailed in last of four behind Tiger Roll and Calipto at Cheltenham. On paper that run wouldn't give him much of a chance, however he ran much better than his placing suggests and will come on a lot for the outing. He wasn't completely out of the mix at the second last, although he was by no means a huge danger and was found wanting when fitness came to the fore. That run will have put him right and a much better effort this time round is assured on ground that is absolutely perfect.

With that kept in mind and the fact that the yard targeted this race last year with Chris Pea Green who chased home Pine Creek, we can rely on Violet Dancer to give us a good run at a big price. (16/1)

4:20 Wetherby - Blakemount - Horse To Follow

A short priced selection now with Blakemount who is our second horse to follow that runs today along with Next Sensation. Sue Smith's yard have started the season well however they have been coming up short for win purposes, although none of them have been Blakemount.

On face value Blakemount is at a disadvantage as his two rivals are both racefit from recent efforts, although Blakemount was the best on ratings over hurdles. Despite earning a mark of 140 over timber he has always promised to be a better chaser and hails from a yard that excels with staying chasers. We haven't seen the selection since narrowly losing out to Urban Hymn in a Grade Two at Doncaster which is the stand out form in the race. However that form can go out the window if he doesn't take to fences, although by the way he jumped his hurdles I can't see that being any problem.

This should be a pretty straight forward task for Blakemount on chase debut and this should be nothing more than a stepping stone to the top Novice events. (13/8)

NAP - Next Sensation
Nb - Blakemount

Good luck today and as always, happy punting!