Ascot and Haydock provide quality racing on Saturday afternoon with the Betfair Ascot Chase (17h36), the highlight.
The 170 rated L’Homme Presse takes on three rivals in the 2-mile, 5-furlong contest; and this course and distance winner should be winning this before his Gold Cup tilt at Cheltenham next month.
Venetia Williams stable star made a perfect return from a year on the sidelines with victory at Lingfield last month, comfortably accounting for Protektorat and should have too much class for front-runners Ahoy Senor and Pic D’Orhy.
The two-mile-five-furlong trip will be the shortest distance he has tackled for a while, but with plenty pace and his favoured soft ground, L’Homme Presse should win his third Group 1.
Earlier on the card, Apple Away is fancied in the Gr2 Sodexo Live! Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (15h50), run over 3-miles.
In what looks a competitive five-runner contest, the Lucinda Russell trained mare is rated 1lb inferior to the in-form Kilbeg King but receives a very handy 7lbs sex allowance.
That should be enough to get her back on the winning path after finding the smart Grey Dawning too strong last month at Warwick.
Up north at Haydock, Butch can graduate from handicap company in the Gr2 Virgin Bet Rendlesham Hurdle (16h40), run over an extended 3-miles.
Favourite Botox Has must concede a 6lb penalty, and the in-form Olly Murphy gets the top-class Sean Bowen back in the irons after injury.
You Wear It Well is the class act in the listed Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Mares’ Hurdle (15h02) and even with a penalty for her Wetherby Listed win back in November she is well ahead on the ratings.
Also on the Haydock card, Salver could outstay the equally progressive Castelfort in the 2-mile Virgin Bet Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (16h10).
Both four-year-olds look real mudlarks, but Gary Moore’s runner is officially rated 8lbs higher than Castelfort who he meets at levels.
