DOUBLE HANDFUL

I’LL be at Ascot today and I’ll be sorely tempted to back Brain Power — something I’ve often been accused of lacking. I bagged one of my biggest-ever wins on Nicky Henderson’s charge at Ascot in 2016 when he won a two-mile hurdle at 12-1 so I feel I owe the horse a few bob — and there’s not many I can say that about, although there are several more humans.

People who say they don’t like horseracing have never experienced the thrill of a big-priced winner getting you out of trouble. The only thing I can compare it to was that time when two chocolate bars fall from a vending machine at the same time.

Money has been coming in for Brain Power all week, even though logic dictates UN DE SCEAUX only has to turn up to win today’s Clarence House Chase.

Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old is one of those horses who doesn’t seem to get enough credit for what he has achieved on the racecourse. On soft ground he’s virtually unbeatable, a staggering 18 wins from 21 outings on yielding surfaces is testament enough to that statement. The ground was soft yesetrday and more rain is forecast for today, lots of it in fact. This means the price on Un De Sceaux will almost certainly shorten. By the time the race starts I’ll be surprised if he’s not 4-9 or shorter. Fortunately I got on at 8-11 and 4-6. Brain Power has been backed all week from 8-1 down to 9-4 in places. Those places should be preparing themselves for bitter disappointment. What of the other three runners? Kylemore Lough was pulled up on his last start, Paul Nicholls’ San Benedeto finished last of five runners in the Tingle Creek last time and Speredek has been raised so far up in class he’s more in danger of getting the bends than winning.