Stone’s so hard to beat
ASCOT
EDWARDSTONE gets the vote to complete a Cheltenham Festival heroes’ treble at Ascot by defying top weight in the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase (3.15).
Alan King’s son of Kayf Tara enjoyed the high point of an excellent novicechasing campaign when landing the Arkle Challenge Trophy last March and still has the untapped potential to improve past a British Horseracing Authority rating of 161.
Champion Hurdle favourite CONSTITUTION HILL should justify buildingsociety odds, so long as Nicky Henderson (below) is happy with the ground this morning, in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle (2.40).
The 22-length demolition of his Supreme Novices’
Hurdle foes — stablemate Jonbon led the beaten horses home — will live long in the memory and the five-year-old has plenty in hand, as he seeks to take his record in the professional ranks to four wins from as many attempts.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase victor L’HOMME PRESSE is very much the man to follow in the Grade 2 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase (2.05).
Venetia Williams’ rising star wasn’t at his best when third to Cheltenham victim Ahoy Senor in Aintree’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase last April but is reported to be firing on all cylinders for his comeback.