'He's been trained for the race and he escapes a penalty' - who has big hopes of landing the Ascot Hurdle?

On a weekend defined by returning Cheltenham Festival winners, Golden Ace will be yet another to grace the track in the Ascot Hurdle. She might lack the public pull of Galopin Des Champs or State Man, but still provided one of the feel-good stories of the festival when thwarting a seemingly irresistible Irish challenge in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Brighterdaysahead and Jade De Grugy were the big talking horses heading into that race, and the Jeremy Scott-trained mare brushed them aside with a superb turn of foot. The two Irish mares picked up Grade 1s later in the spring, so the form is rock solid.

This is Golden Ace’s first start in open company, although she isn’t the only lightly raced hurdler in a warm field. Blueking D’Oroux landed this as a four-year-old in 2023 and evidently continues to have youth on his side, for all his lack of a recent outing is a small concern as many of Paul Nicholls’ runners have been needing their returns. Win or lose at Ascot, Blueking D’Oroux may be capable of developing into one of the leading staying hurdlers in Britain at least.

Take out Sir Gino and Salver achieved more than any British-trained juvenile last campaign. The talent is there. The mud he craves probably won’t be. Eight-year-old Thunder Rock may be double the age of Salver, but is similarly low mileage in this discipline and rates an interesting contender on his first hurdles start since April 2022. Jumping fences sometimes proved troublesome for Thunder Rock and the change of tack is logical.

Lucky Place is another who merits respect. He is 10lb better off with Golden Ace for a narrow defeat at Taunton in January and his excellent fourth in the Coral Cup came at a time when Nicky Henderson voiced his concerns over the welfare of his string.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Blueking D'Oroux
He won the race last year and we've had it in mind for a while. He's in good shape. I think the best is yet to come from him.

Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Salver
Handicap-wise, he's not particularly well in with a couple of them, but he's been ready to run for a month now and hopefully, if we get the rain we've been promised, he has some sort of chance.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Thunder Rock
He's been trained for the race and he escapes a penalty. I'm really looking forward to going back over hurdles with him and fingers crossed he has a good chance. Off the figures he should be bang there.

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Golden Ace
We're very happy with her. We had a hold up with her earlier in the season, which is why she's not run before this, but most of my horses have looked like they've needed the run, so I wouldn't be surprised if she'll come on for it. It's exciting to get her back out, but we've been caught between a rock and a hard place on whether to go over two miles or two-miles-three, but we've opted for this because of the conditions being the way they are. It suits her better than the two other races we had in mind next week.
Reporting by Liam Headd

Saturday previews:

12.30 Punchestown: Ballyburn out to emulate Gaelic Warrior, Faugheen and Champagne Fever with chase debut victory at Punchestown

2.10 Punchestown: Magic Morgiana in store as State Man attempts to repel two new challengers in Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead

2.30 Haydock: 'I didn't expect to be coming here' - Dan Skelton on his three runners in valuable staying handicap hurdle

3.05 Haydock: 'I'd love to come away with a genuine Gold Cup horse' - Dan Skelton excited for Grey Dawning's Betfair Chase challenge

3.20 Ascot: 'If it rains, his chances improve massively' - analysis and key quotes for the Hurst Park Handicap Chase