Nicky Henderson bids for Ascot four-timer with Epatante relative and Jamie Spencer heads to Dundalk - Friday's punting pointers

Punting pointers from each of Friday's race meetings . . .

Ascot: Henderson looks for fourth win in a row

Nicky Henderson has won the last three runnings of the 1m7½f introductory hurdle (1.30) and saddles the JP McManus-owned Joyeuse.

Bought for €235,000 after winning a 1m4f bumper in October 2022 when trained in France, the five-year-old didn't make the track until January but showed plenty of promise in winning a maiden hurdle at Taunton on her debut.

The form has worked out well, with the runner-up, who was in receipt of 6lb, winning on his next start and the third landing his next two races, while the fourth, seventh (twice), eighth (twice) and ninth (three times) have scored since.

Joyeuse, whose dam is a half-sister to the yard's Champion Hurdle-winning mare Epatante, is open to any amount of improvement this season and is armed with a 7lb allowance on this reappearance.

Henderson said: "It's a very interesting race. Five of them have won their only start over hurdles and they all seem pretty smart. The form of her Taunton race is working out, which is encouraging."

Joyeuse13:30 Ascot

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Jky: Nico de Boinville Tnr: Nicky Henderson

Key stat: Nicholls goes for more bumper success

Paul Nicholls has saddled six winners from 14 runners (43 per cent strike-rate) in bumpers at the track in the last five seasons. He tries to enhance that fine record with Calvino in the finale (3.50).

Calvino15:50 Ascot

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Jky: Freddie Gingell (3lb)Tnr: Paul Nicholls

Catterick: Maggs and Menzies a combination to note

Conditional Charlie Maggs has struck on three of his last five rides and bids to continue his fine run on You Some Girl in the 3m1½f handicap hurdle (12.05).

He has ridden a winner and a second in two rides for Rebecca Menzies, including when guiding this seven-year-old to a comfortable victory at Newcastle last week.

Menzies is in good form, having struck with four of her last 11 runners (36 per cent strike-rate), and also runs Imperial Rule (1.15), High Moon (1.50), Balally Park (2.25) and Snapaudaciaheros (3.32) on the card.

You Some Girl12:05 Catterick

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Jky: Charlie Maggs (3lb)Tnr: Rebecca Menzies

Chepstow: Royal Mer a handicap chaser to note for Pipe

Nobody has saddled more winners at the Welsh track this season than David Pipe, who looks to add to his tally with Royal Mer in the 2m3½f handicap chase (2.15).

Pipe's four winners have come at a strike-rate of 27 per cent, but that figure improves significantly to 75 per cent when focusing on handicap chases this season.

Royal Mer won five of his ten chase starts last winter, including completing a hat-trick with an easy win at Wincanton in April, and was given a spin over hurdles on his reappearance, which should set him up perfectly for this.

Royal Mer14:15 Chepstow

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Jky: Jack Tudor Tnr: David Pipe

Dundalk: Spencer over for one ride for De Bromhead

Jamie Spencer hasn't ridden at Dundalk for more than five years but boasts a fine record on the all-weather track, with two winners and a second from three rides (67 per cent strike-rate).

He heads there for just one ride in division one of the mile fillies' maiden (7.00) on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Nuit.

The two-year-old travelled well for a long way before looking green on her debut behind two more experienced rivals at Naas last month and looks sure to come for the run.

Nuit19:00 Dundalk (A.W)

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Jky: Jamie Spencer Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Newcastle: Smart money on hot stable to remain in form

Bryan Smart has the highest RTF (Running To Form; defined as running to within 7lb of racecard Racing Post Rating) of any trainer in the last two weeks at 80 per cent.

He has saddled two winners, a second and two thirds from five runners in that timeframe before Thursday evening's racing and looks to build on his good run with three runners at Newcastle.

Bond Chairman (5.15) is well handicapped if rediscovering some of his old form, while Jamaican Storm (4.40) could build on the promise of his debut third last month and Arlington (7.45) has won both starts over course and distance.

Smart said: "Jamaican Storm ran very well on his debut and is a nice horse in the making. We like him but there could be some good ones in an open novice. Bond Chairman has come on for his reappearance and I'm very happy with him. Arlington loves Newcastle – he hasn't run for a while but is in good form."

Key stat: more juvenile joy for Philippart de Foy?

Kevin Philippart de Foy is two from four (50 per cent strike-rate) in nurseries at Newcastle this season. He saddles last-time-out winner Bow Street in the 6f nursery (4.10).

Bow Street16:10 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Benoit De La Sayette Tnr: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Tipperary: Mullins, Walsh and McManus team up with exciting chase debutants

Willie Mullins is set to unleash some of his big guns at Punchestown this weekend, but before that the trainer saddles a couple of talented runners in the beginners' chases at Tipperary.

The highly regarded Mirazur West perhaps didn't quite reach the heights that Mullins had in mind last season, but he still managed to land a Grade 2 novice hurdle and was a fair fourth to Ballyburn in the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown festival when last seen.

The trip probably stretched him that day and this brother to Champion Bumper and Grade 1 chase winner Ferny Hollow could make his mark over fences in the 2m½f beginners' chase (3.07).

Mullins, jockey Mark Walsh and owner JP McManus will be looking for a double 35 minutes later when Sa Majeste lines up in the 2m7½f beginners' chase (3.42). He was runner-up to a useful stayer at Galway last month and can put that experience to good use.

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