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There are definitely plenty of questions to be asked about No Questions Asked.
I wasn't sure on the ride Ben Jones gave the horse, but as the race progressed, he did little wrong.
He held his mount up, and slowly brought him into the race. He jumped a fence before they turned for home, and the horse flew it and gained at least three lengths on the leaders.
At that point, I thought it was a matter of time before we went past and got the win. However, when Ben asked for an effort, there was nothing left for the horse to give. Very strange, and maybe a wind-op will be on the cards.
The runner in the bumper was weak in the market, travelled well, but found nothing for pressure like No Questions Asked. The runner-up is definitely the horse to take out of the race.
Crambo 10/1 (0.5pt EW, 4pl) – Ascot 2.25
I made a mistake in Crambo's race last time out. I put him in a Lucky 15 bet, as I thought at the odds, he was too big of a price. I thought it was likely a prep run for today's race, which it definitely was, but I didn't realise it was over 2m 4f lto.
If I realised, he wouldn't have been tipped up. However, like I mentioned on that day and a few sentences before, today's race has been the plan all along.
This horse is a two-time winner of this race, and he puts in his best performances at Ascot. The staying division is on its knees, and has been for a while. It is like the sprinting division on the flat, where you don't have a dominant force winning all the big races.
I think we will get decent odds on Crambo, and if he is firing on all cylinders, he is one of the horses to beat.
Hyland 14/1 (0.5pt EW, 4pl) – Ascot 3.00
With the good 7lb claimer riding Ga Law, I thought that horse was worth a chance. That horse has some solid form, and even though he hasn't won over 3m, he is still probably worth a chance.
However, I couldn't stop myself from backing Hyland, which goes against everything I like over the jumps. I am not a fan of Nico De Boinville, and Nicky Henderson isn't a stable I put a great amount of trust in.
If Hyland is on a going day, he should be going very close in this. He is running off a very good handicap mark of 143, which is 4lbs lower than when running on his handicap on his first run this season.
His runs this season have been decent, but he hasn't set the world alight. The handicapper has given him a chance, especially if he can reproduce the form of the second to The Jukebox Man and the win over Resplendent Grey.
He is best on good ground. The current description of the ground is soft, good to soft in places. Ascot is expecting no further rain, and the track drains nicely, so I think the ground should be riding on the good side of good to soft.
Alexei 4/1 (1pt) – Ascot 3.35
I have been very impressed by the progressive Alexei this season. He has taken every step up in grade in his stride, doing it easily on every occasion.
I know for a fact that Tizzard stable think he is a Grade 1 horse, so if he is a Grade 1 winner, he should be winning this off top weight.
I'm not saying that it's going to be an easy task, and it will likely be his toughest race, but there's nothing to suggest he can't win again.
I'd say it's a much safer option backing this horse than the horses towards the bottom of the weights. The likes of Mondo Man have good flat form, but haven't shown enough over hurdles to suggest they can win this.
Supreme Malinas 3/1 (2pt) – Haydock 2.40
My only play outside of Ascot is Supreme Malinas at Haydock.
Tristan Durrell does well when picking up solid spares for the Dan Skelton yard. He is the number two jockey, so when Harry goes to the big meetings, Tristan picks up the pieces and does a solid job.
The McConnell horse is the one to beat on all known form, but in races like this, I don't think it's as simple as following the strongest form.
All of the horses are unexposed, and I liked what I saw from Supreme Malinas on hurdling debut. She was a solid bumper horse, and she made no mistakes when being heavily backed at Exeter.
She relished the slight step up in trip, and I think the softer ground at Haydock will be even better for her.
GambleAware