🏇 Ascot Chase Raceday: The Full Report

How’s it going?

All set for the ‘Weekend of Love’, or just hoping for a few winners? Maybe even some sunshine. We hear you.

Okay. For those seeking a cheeky, romantic winner - no sniggering - these could prove popular...

Love Sonnet (12.55 Haydock Park)
Mc Loven (2.00 Lingfield Park)
Your Darling (3.00 Ascot)
Brazilian Rose (6.55 Newcastle)

For those seeking a bit more, we’ll do our best.

This weekend’s big meeting comes from Ascot. Not Royal Ascot, that’s in four months’ time. The winter jumps season is still upon us - the Flat can wait.

Ascot’s big race is - wait for it - the Ascot Chase.

Elsewhere, there are two Grand National Trials, one at Haydock Park, the other at Punchestown on Sunday.

We won’t mention morning inspections and cold weather - it’s getting boring..

..let’s just get down to it.

Paul Nicholls’ runners remain in sparkling form (treble on Thursday). His Captain Teague was pulled up after a 415-day absence last month, but may now show more in Ascot’s 2.25.

Deafening Silence, a 33-1 shot for the Grand National, runs in Saturday’s trial at Haydock. ‘He’s in really good form, and the track will suit’ - Dan Skelton.

Alexei is odds-on to make a successful step up into Grade 2 company at Wincanton - ‘he's got quicker this season’ - Joe Tizzard (trainer).

UK rain has fallen every day in 2026 (apologies, we’ve mentioned the weather!). However, the PR Team remains joyous. They have a ‘quiet’ list of horses crying out for drier ground at the spring meetings. We’ll watch the weather, you stay tuned.

On that ‘drier’ theme, two of last weekend’s big favourites at Newbury, Let It Rain (!) and Captain Bellamy, were pulled up on heavy ground. Both trainers confirmed afterwards their horses would ‘prefer a quicker surface’. They’re on our list.

Wodhooh heads ‘straight to the Mares' Hurdle’ for a potential rematch with Lossiemouth - the only horse to have beaten her. Lossiemouth is 5-4, Wodhooh 2-1.

Wendigo is the big British hope for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (7-1) after winning last weekend. Unlucky at Cheltenham last year, and then beaten around Kempton’s right-handed turn over Christmas, connections state he is ‘better on a left-handed track’.

Honesty Policy is being saved for the Stayers’ Hurdle (4-1). Currently with his feet up away from the wet stuff, he’ll be fresh for Cheltenham and has ‘improved so much’.

Davy Crockett won all three races in 2025 (decent ground), but was beaten when blowing the cobwebs away in the mud at Leopardstown 12 days ago. Willie Mullins views him as one for ‘the big festivals in the spring’.

Love Sign D'aunou is in the Champion Bumper (6-1), winning on his reappearance at Naas. ‘He hammered them and it was a huge run’ - Mullins.

Mullins also sees the return of Impaire Et Passe in Saturday’s Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park. Even if successful, he might ‘skip Cheltenham and maybe go to Aintree’.

Patrick Mullins made it clear who he’d like to ride at the Festival: ‘Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup’.

You’ll see this a lot ahead of Cheltenham. It’s when bookies return stakes on any horse backed ahead of Cheltenham that doesn't run in the race specified. Therefore, if you fancy one at bigger odds than what it might be at the festival, take advantage.

Ascot Notes:

1.50: Only one of the last 10 favourites triumphed in 2018.

3.00: No favourite won during the last 10 years, the last in 2015.

3.35 - Pic D’orhy won the last two renewals. The last to attempt three Ascot Chase wins was Tiutchev in 2004 - he fell as the 6-4 favourite.

4.10 - Three of the last four winners were all 14-1. Jockey Ben Jones won it three times.

4.45 - All bar one winner since 2016 came from the top three in the betting.

Haydock Notes:

2.40: Horses that ran at Uttoxeter last time did well - Lon Chaney treads this path.

3.50: The best profile was a 6 or 7-year-old with a top-two finish this season.

4.30: Only one of the last 10 winners was bigger than 4-1, seven were favourites.

Wincaton Notes:

2.50: Saint Cyr De Pail lost all six races going left-handed (anti-clockwise), but is 2-4 going right-handed. He should like this clockwise track.

Gowran Park Notes:

Overall, the second favourites did well here during the last year, and also at this specific fixture.

3.05: Young Conditional jockeys with a 7lb weight allowance won three of the last four renewals - two were 28-1 and 20-1.

Musselburgh Notes:

The training partnership of Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore had a timely treble on Friday and are worth noting.

Punchestown Notes:

2.30: Gordon Elliott trained six of the last eight winners at 14-1, 12-1, 10-1, 7-1, 6-1 & 5-1.

4.32: Willie Mullins and Patrick Mullins teamed up to win the last four renewals.

Mrs Pure received red roses courtesy of last weekend’s Warwick winner. Cue the music..

..roses are red, violets are blue, The Purist reveals his finest for you..

THE SHORTEST PRICE - Sa Fureur (3.40, Gowran Park)

Loves heavy ground, and value against the favourite, who returns after 291 days off.

THE MEDIUM PRICE - Throatlash (1.28 Haydock Park)

Improved to win his last three, including over course-and-distance last month.

THE BIGGEST PRICE - (3.00 Ascot, Jipcot)

Could get an uncontested lead for his red-hot trainer.

A name for the future - Matin Midi Et Soir. Purchased from France and ‘moving beautifully’ at home for Henry De Bromhead.

Cheltenham Preview Nights are in the air. It’s when you hear phrases like ‘he’s the bet of the week’. The first is Friday, 20th February at Fratton Park Stadium, 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm. The PR Team will ‘pass on’ what we hear.

On the All-Weather, Aisling Oscar goes for a record-breaking ninth straight handicap victory at Newcastle on Saturday (5.55 pm) - the same time Newcastle United play Aston Villa in the FA Cup. What price a Geordie double?

Our All-Weather guru also informs that trainer Michael Attwater has his runners in top form. He has three runners at Lingfield on Saturday: Honour Your Dreams (2.00), Pitney (2.35) & Stapleford Park (4.20).

► ITV4 (free): Ascot 1.15, 1.50. 2.25, 3.00, 3.35, Haydock 2.05, 2.40, 3.15, Wincanton 1.35
► Sky Sports Racing (free): Ascot, Lingfield Park, Newcastle
► Racing UK (subscription): Gowran Park, Haydock, Musselburgh, Punchestown, Wincanton

Next weekend is Ladbrokes Trophy Day at Kempton, and Newcastle’s Eider Chase.

Kempton’s classy trials for Cheltenham are very informative, while Newcastle’s stamina-sapping Eider Chase - just shy of the Grand National’s distance - is a top pointer for Aintree.

Until then..

..keep ‘em peeled.