Good morning/evening everyone, I hope we are all slowly getting ready for Christmas and have time to take an afternoon off for the racing. Last week saw us see two potential Cheltenham Festival winners with The New One cementing his already impressive Champion Hurdle credentials, before Rock On Ruby won the Relkeel and earned World Hurdle quotes. This weekend is no different as Zarkandar looks to add yet another Grade One to his portfolio in the JLT Long Walk Hurdle and Activial heads the Ladbroke Hurdle market.
As always @Ontheotherhoof have a video preview prepared for you guys as we discuss all of tomorrow's racing on Channel 4. Joining me on the panel this week were @Adamwebb121 and fresh off the pantomime scene @Mytentoryours. You can watch the show via the link below, enjoy!
Ladbroke Hurdle Day Preview
Now onto the all important selections
Ascot 1:50 - Bellenos
Dan Skelton's Gelding has been a bit expensive to follow this season after disappointing on his reappearance when well backed, and finishing down the field last time out. In fairness to him there were excuses last time out as he was found to be lame after the race, which is a perfectly understandable reason for the poor show. With that kept in mind, he jumped fantastically as he usually does and that could prove a strong asset to have in a race like this.
He won over course and distance last season off a 17 pound lower mark but hasn't done too much to suggest he is necessarily badly handicapped. The yard form is also worth taking into account as well with Dan Skelton saddling three winners from his last six runners. With everything taken into account, Bellenos is well worth another chance today in what looks a below average race for the track. (11/2)
Ascot 2:25 - Aubusson
Today's only Grade One has suffered from a pretty poor turn out with just a field of five accepting the challenge of the Long Walk this year. Among those five is the winner of this race for the last two seasons, Reve De Sivola who is partnered by Daryl Jacob in the absence of Richard Johnson.
On Reve De Sivola's best form then he would be well up to winning this contest, however he hasn't been at his best since last season. More recently he has disappointed on two occasions in France with one of them coming behind Zarkandar when well beaten into seventh. He is usually prepped for this race which would give some confidence but he has a lot to find on recent form.
As mentioned before, Zarkandar beat Reve De Sivola in France and was impressive in doing so. That was the former's stand out performance at this trip after not overly convincing in England, but he benefitted from more forceful tactics that day. He clearly sets the standard in this field but it wouldn't take a world beater for him to find one too good tomorrow and at the prices is opposed.
Medinas burst back to form last time out when beating More Of That and Cole Harden at Newbury after a few rather tame efforts. He still has a bit to prove to show us that he is back at his best for me as that race fell into his lap with the protagonists going off too fast on testing ground. He isn't completely ruled out but is very much a watching brief this afternoon.
Dell Arca is the outsider of the field and reverts back to hurdles after two failed attempts over fences. He has been thrown in to the deep end here with his first attempt at three miles coming in a Grade One but is open to improvement.
That leaves us with Aubusson who entered calculations at this level when landing the fixed brush handicap hurdle at Haydock in impressive fashion. Obviously this is a big step up in class but on official ratings he only has seven pounds to find with Zarkandar and is ahead of Reve De Sivola. One of the main talking points will be his jockey booking of Lizzie Kelly, she is his regular rider but can't claim her seven pounds today making life harder saying that she is more than capable and knows the horse better than anyone else. Aubusson to make successful step up in class and land the Grade One Long Walk. (7/1)
Lingfield 2:35 - Baltic Knight
A trip to Lingfield now as Baltic Knight steps back up in trip after disappointing at Newbury on his only previous try over 10 furlongs. He is well worth another go however after staying on too late over a mile in a strong Kempton Listed race. That form looks extraordinary for a Listed race with Sloane Avenue being talked about as a potential Dubai World Cup horse and Captain Cat already contesting Group Ones.
This race doesn't look anywhere near that quality with Grendisar looking the only danger and he is far from straightforward. Followers of his will know the feeling of seeing him travel very strongly only to not find anything off the bridle all too well.
As well as being the top rated horse in the race on official ratings, Baltic Knight is also partnered by George Baker who rides this track better than anyone. Baltic Knight to improve for the step up in trip and put his class to good use. (7/4)
Ascot 3:30 - Sea Beat
A good turn out for the Ladbroke Hurdle this season with 18 horses going to post after Baradari was confirmed as a non runner. Activial heads the market at 9/2 off a handicap mark of 137 after not showing his best form in a Grade One at Aintree last season.
Preference however is for the bottom weight, Sea Beat who is sent over by Arthur Moore but must run from four pounds out of the handicap. We have only seen Sea Beat on the racecourse five times but he still boasts some excellent form including two lengths behind Plinth on debut who is now rated in the 140s. His most recent outing came on the flat however, as he had a pipe opener round Galway when mixing it with some very nice horses and holding his own when third. That will have blown away the cobwebs and put him right for this afternoon off a handicap mark that could still be lenient on ground that is perfect for him. (14/1)
NAP - Aubusson
Nb - Bellenos
Good luck today and as always, happy punting!
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