Victoria Cup/Swinton Hurdle Preview

After another entertaining Chester May Festival, attentions now switch to the second of Ascot's two day meeting, headlined by the widely competitive, calvary charge that is The Victoria Cup as well as a solid mixed code fixture at Haydock Park featuring one of the National Hunt seasons opening handicaps, The Swinton Handicap Hurdle. We also have classic credentials being put to the test at Lingfield with the Oak's and Derby Trials taking centre stage at the Surrey venue. Unfortunately, unsatisfactory blood tests have ruled out current 9-2 Derby favourite High Definition from tomorrow's Derby Trial which has arguably taken the gloss off of what would've been an intruiging seasonal reappearance.

The Victoria Cup comes up at 3:40 at Ascot and is once again another wide open renewal. We have Hugo Palmer's Spring Mile runner up Acquitted topping the market alongside 2020 Royal Ascot winner and Bunbury Cup winner Motakhayyel for Richard Hannon. Ascot regulars Greenside, Kaeso and Raising Sand all line up once again. The recent wet weather will only solidify the chances of the Jamie Osborne trained 9yo, although his backers will be doing a raindance once more before off time tomorrow. The promising Saffie Osborne's 7lb claim should come in handy here with the pair breaking from stall 26.

The horse that I like in this race is the Rebel Racing owned, Richard Spencer trained Keyser Soze. The 7yo bounced back to form after a quiet stint on the All weather with a gutsy success over 1m last time out and I'm confident that the drop back to 7f should suit. Keyser Soze will, once again be partnered by 5lb claimer Angus Villiers who has built up a good understanding with this horse as well as hitting the ground running this season following an horrific injury at Wolverhampton during the Winter. Drawn in stall 1 along with taking 5lb's off of 8st 3lb's, Keyser Soze looks overpriced in what looks to be a typically competitive puzzle of a flat handicap.

To kick things off up at Haydock, in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at 1:25, I like the chances of the Dan Skelton trained Proschema. This former Tom Dascombe trained 6yo was an extremely impressive winner at Cheltenham last month over 2m4f under a cool,quiet, inspired ride by Champion Jockey Harry Skelton and he gave some useful handicappers a fairly good beating. Bridget Andrews comes in for the ride, with the pair already tasting success together following a victory in a Newcastle Jumpers Bumper in January. The step up to 3m should hopefully be a plus and I expect Proschema to build upon a comfortable victory last time out.

Moving into the feature at 3:10, the Grade 3 Swinton Handicap Hurdle over 2m and the horse that catches my eye is the Nicky Henderson trained Hooper ridden by 7lb claimer Ben Ffrench Davis. This 5yo by Rip Van Winkle once chased home the very smart Ocean Wind in a bumper at Huntingdon in 2019 and is now chasing a four timer. This is a big jump up in class going up into a graded handicap for the first time, but Hooper stayed on well to win at Cheltenham last time with Ben Ffrench Davis again retaining the ride. This doesn't appear to be the strongest of renewals on paper and Hooper could be a young, progressive type that can run well in this. The long run in at Haydock shouldn't be an issue considering how well he finished up the unique Cheltenham Hill and I expect a bold show from Hooper in this contest.

I wouldn’t rule out the Evan Williams trained Ballinsker either. His form behind Milkwood in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October and a sixth placed finish in the Greatwood behind The Shunter is very solid form indeed. A below par run in the Betfair Hurdle last time out could be forgiven, throw into the mix Evan William’s strong recent record in this race with the likes of Ballyglasheen and John Constable who form four of the last seven winners to come from The Vale Of Glamorgan. Ballinsker could go well at what looks to be a very generous price.

In the final race at Haydock, The Perteps Network Handicap Chase over 2m2f, I quite like the chances of the Ian Williams trained Solar Impulse ridden by the very capable 3lb claimer Charlie Todd. The Ian Williams team have been in flying form of late, most notably with the terrific placing of the talented but quirky mare Dragon Bones who completed a four timer at Newton Abbott during the week. Solar Impulses form has been a bit patchy recently with his last four runs reading P-2-P-2. Charlie Todd knows this 11yo very well, having won on him before and like his boss, has been in really good form of late, giving top rides to the likes of One More Fleurie at Ayr‘s Scottish National meeting and Hydroplane. Charlie takes a handy 3lb off here and I hope Solar Impulse can now start to put a consistent run of form together.