3 minute read

Friday marks the start of an exciting two-day jumps fixture at Ascot and the team provide two selections from the Berkshire venue…

Whilst only third-favourite in the betting for the 1m7½f Troy Asset Management "Introductory" Hurdle (13:30), Olly Murphy's Wade Out boasts significant form.

A winner of a maiden point-to-point in November 2023, the five-year-old made a successful start to his career under rules with a victory in a Market Rasen bumper, with subsequent Cheltenham November meeting winner Ace Of Spades back in second. The gelding displayed a strong round of jumping when switched to hurdles for the first time at Uttoxeter in mid-October, making headway with two to jump before keeping on for a comfortable one-and-a-half length victory. The second-placed horse We're Red And Blue has since given the form a boost with a Carlisle success.

Olly Murphy's yard are operating at a 31% strike rate from the last fourteen days, with booked rider Sean Bowen continuing his assault on the Jockeys' Championship title with twenty winners in the same timeframe. With each of the second-placed horses from Wade Out's two victories under rules going on to win on their subsequent outing, it is fair to conclude the market may have under-estimated the gelding's ability.

WIN – WADE OUT – 7/2

Nocte Volatus has been capitalising on the recent spell of mild weather and could continue his run of good form for the Tom Lacey yard in the 2m5f CopyBet Handicap Chase (14:05).

The nine-year-old returned after the summer break with a victory at Uttoxeter under conditional Cameron Iles, overcoming a string of poor jumps to take a one-and-a-quarter length advantage over Mumbo Jumbo. He was the outsider of the field when stepped up in class at Chepstow subsequent under a different conditional and surprised many with a game success, despite making a mistake at the third-last fence. Connections have chosen to help negate the rise in the weights with the re-engagement of seven pound conditional Cameron Isles, and whilst Nocte Volatus' continued upward trajectory through the handicap will undoubtedly end his winning run at some stage, the Lacey team may be able to coax one more success out of the experienced campaigner.

WIN – NOCTE VOLATUS – 9/1