Card to prove the Ascot ace
THE divorce of Paddy Brennan from his regular Grade One-winning mount CUE CARD (3.35, nap) proved only temporary and the pair are reunited for today’s Ascot Chase, a race they have already won twice together.
Brennan was summarily jocked off Cue Card after falls in the latest Gold Cup and the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, having ridden the THE SCOUT horse in 13 consecutive races, five of them Grade One wins.
The experiment backfired with Cue Card again jumping falteringly before finishing a tired 57 lengths behind Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase.
Trainer Colin Tizzard and the owners have to be applauded in going back to Brennan, and with a record of two wins in two appearances at Ascot, expect the combinaton to bounce back to winning form. Gold Present (2.25) can make it three wins in as many outings this season by defying top weight in the Keltbray Swinley Chase.
He stayed on strongly to beat Frodon over this course and distance, and the runnerup franked the form in style subsequently at Cheltenham.
Another smooth-jumping performance will see Gold Present join everyone’s Grand National short list.
Black Corton (1.50) is being kept busy for a top class prospect, with seven wins from nine races already since he began his chase campaign in June. Bryony Frost has established a good rapport with the horse and they landed their first Grade One together in the Kauto Star Chase at Kempton over Christmas, holding off Elegant Escape with the rest well beaten off.
Blaklion (3.15), like Gold Present, can underline his Grand National credentials by taking the Haydock trial.
He was runner-up in this race last season before going on to finish fourth at Aintree where he didn’t quite seem to get home after taking up the lead four fences from home.