1405 Ascot - Carey Group Handicap Chase

Lord Henry ran creditably on his reappearance here last month but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding needs to improve on that effort to get the better of CORNAS, who gets the vote ahead of Qrackers.

The last mentioned had become expensive to follow but showed much improved form when winning all four of his starts (two over hurdles and two over fences) for Paul Nicholls last season. Now with Venetia Williams, Qrackers has his first start since winning a novice chase at Newton Abbot in August 2008 but the yard have their runners in good form so he has to be respected. The Alner's Master Medic has been in similarly good form, winning each of his last four starts, but a 10lb rise for his latest success here last month looks harsh and he may struggle to make it five on the bounce. Gary Moore's Fix The Rib is closely matched with Master Medic on running here last time and there should not be a great deal between the pair again but preference is for Cornas. Nick Williams has his string in good form at present and his representative put a fall at Limerick behind him when a good third behind Planet Of Sound at Exeter earlier this month. With confidence now restored, Cornas looks worth backing to resume winning ways.

1420 Haydock - Timeform Betfair Racing Club 'fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle

A cracking Listed contest where plenty have chances but DIAMOND HARRY will be very tough to beat, despite topweight. Nick Williams' gelding went righjt to the very top in novices' company last season, carrying all before him and finding only Mikael D'Haguenet and Karabak too good for him in the Grade 1 Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival. He acts well with plenty of cut in the ground and looks sure to get this longer trip, while his speed will help him come the business end.

Burton Port looks a serious danger. Nicky Henderson switches him back to hurdles after landing a Bangor beginners' chase recently, and as one who stays this far and handles conditions he ought to be bang there from his current mark. Pause And Clause is much better than he was able to show at Aintree in April. He relishes cut and should stay this far, and may well emerge as a leading player.

The novice McMurrough will find it tougher against seasoned handicappers, while mudlark Saphire Night has been done no favours by the assessor after his Uttoxeter win in May. Rathcor looks the pick of the Ian Williams-trained pair, although you could argue that Lysander is well handicapped after his chase win last time, if able to transfer those abilities back to hurdling.

Pennek and Kayf Aramis are both well up to this standard and the latter will love the ground here and stays very well, so with the yard in great form he should go close. You won't see many more competitive staying hurdles all season and Diamond Harry can sparkle once more.

1435 Ascot - Coral Ascot Hurdle

Alan King complicates matters by saddling both Karabak and Katchit and both have to be respected but ZAYNAR completed a hat-trick when landing the Triumph Hurdle in good style when last seen and he is taken to make a winning reappearance for the in-form Nicky Henderson.

David Pipe's Lough Derg is more than capable of taking a hand in the finish in this contest on the best of his form but he was very disappointing on his return in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last month and looks best watched at present. Elusive Dream was similarly well held on his return in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time but Paul Nicholls has his team in better form now. Karabak found just Mikael D'Haguenet too good in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle last season and would have solid claims if fit enough for his reappearance, while stable companion Katchit was not disgraced behind Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle but seemed not to stay this far at Aintree subsequently and a better bet looks to be Zaynar.

1455 Haydock - Betfair Chase

Last year's upset proves that anything can happen, even in Grade 1 chases, but once again with a clear round it is hard to envisage anything beong good enough to beat KAUTO STAR, one of the finest performers since Arkle, while Notre Pere and Madison Du Berlais should be taken very seriously in opposition.

Paul Nicholls' great chaser is rated at least 17lbs clear of every other runner here, and he has proved himself around here with wins in this corresponding race in 2006 and 2007.

He is proven in soft ground, although he has not yet raced on heavy, and unless conditions beat him he should have too much class if he jumps around this time. If there are to be any slip-ups for the star attraction, then Notre Pere is the most likely beneficiary. Jim Dreaper's gelding has jumping issues of his own to overcome after taking a fall at Down Royal last time, but he loves it hock deep and stays well beyond today's trip, so his stamina will be invaluable.

Madison De Berlais enjoyed a great season last time, winning the Hennessy, the Totesport Bowl at Aintree, and lowering the colours of an admittedly off-colour Denman. Kauto Star was far too hot for him in the Gold Cup, but he will be better suited by this track and should go very well. Halcon Genelardais will love the mud and stays forever, but over this trip they tend to go a stride too quick for him and at best he might stay on into the frame.

Contrary to Madison Du Berlais, Imperial Commander reserves his best effort for jumping's headquarters. He acts with plenty of cut, but will really have his stamina tested over this trip against such strong opposition. With the others looking short on class, a race to savour can see Kauto Star.

1505 Lingfield - Betdaq Golden Rose Stakes

Arganil comes here defending an unbeaten record on the all-weather but today's sixth furlong may prove a problem so we'll take him on with CEREMONIAL JADE who can land this listed contest at the main expense of Himalya.

The selection has been off the track since March but has plenty of form to suggest he goes well fresh and Marco Botti's gelding can mow these down late on with his customary late charge. The strong-travelling sort is a much better horse on artificial surfaces having won three times at this track and granted a strong pace to chase Kieren Fallon can guide this six-year-old through the gaps to land the spoils in a cracking race.

Arganil has won five from five on the all-weather and arrives here fit after winning in this grade at Dundalk last time. However, Kevin Ryan's gelding has only one win beyond 5f to his name, that victory on the turf at Hamilton over a year ago in much lesser company, and so he has to be opposed on those grounds today despite otherwise offering a compelling case.

Himalya was fourth in the Coventry Stakes back in 2008 having won on debut and was evidently held in very high regard by his trainer Jeremy Noseda. However, the horse had his problems after that run and didn't makeit back to the track until September of this year when well beaten behind Duff but since then he has progressed with racing suggesting all is not yet lost and he may well go close to landing this prize, although this is a step back up in class following his third place last time out.

Dangers are lurking everywhere in this contest with Rowe Park having landed a much weaker race in decent style at Southwell last time and Jaconet operating at a 75 percent strike rate on the all-weather whilst Fullandby arrives in search of a third consecutive victory but Ceremonial Jade likes it here and can take this listed prize.

1510 Ascot - Amlin 1965 Chase

Monet's Garden put up a really admirable performance when landing the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month and the Nicky Richards-trained gelding has every chance of following up but he is unlikely to find things as easy today with VOY POR USTEDES in opposition and he gets the vote with the pick of the remainder looking to be Planet of Sound.

Philip Hobbs has not had many winners this term but Planet of Sound has been one of them having beaten Cornas, who runs in the 2.05, at Exeter earlier this month and he has to be respected with the possibility of further improvement. Gwanako was a faller at Aintree in the Topham when last seen and looks best watched on his return for Paul Nicholls and of more interest may be Schindlers Hunt. Dessie Hughes has the nine-year-old fit and in form having run well behind Oscar Dan Dan at Thurles last month and he has every chance if able to reproduce the form shown when chasing home the selection at Aintree last term. Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run had a good season over fences two years go when completing a hat-trick when landing the Royal & SunAlliance Chase but he struggled to trouble the judge last term, although did run some decent races in defeat. A better bet looks to be Alan King's Voy Por Ustedes, who proved himself to be one of the best chasers in training last season with wins in Grade 1 races here and at Aintree sandwiched either side of a good second in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. The eight-year-old can make a winning return.

1525 Haydock - Betfair Racing Multiples Handicap Chase

THE VICAR likes it here and can confirm that theory with another win at the track, while Kia Kaha and Shining Gale can make him earn it.

The last-named is set to shoulder topweight after a decent season as a novice, when he won three times. He handles soft ground, though is unproven on heavy, but he looks capable of a bold showing.

Kia Kaha is also unproven on anything slower than good to soft, and he was outclassed in the Jewson in March. He should certainly stay this far and can get competitive.

One who will relish conditions is Morgan Be. Kate Walton's runners are going well and this thorough stayer should be thereabouts if able to answer the most serious question that the handicapper has asked of him yet.

Turpin Green was good enough to finish third to Kauto Star in the 2007 Gold Cup, so stamina is not an issue, nor is heavy ground, and he clearly has a touch of class that Sue Smith may have been able to tap into on his first start for the trainer. Even so, we will side with The Vicar.

Hen Knight has booked Ruby Walsh to do the job today, and the Bob Back gelding scored here over 2m 4f earlier in the year. He loves the mud and is unexposed over this far, and we will pray for another win today.

1540 Lingfield - Betdaq Churchill Stakes

PRESVIS has to give plenty of weight to all of his rivals but Luca Cumani's gelding has done nothing but improve as his career has progressed and he can land the finale ahead of Tranquil Tiger and Suits Me.

Keiren Fallon's mount was last out in May when narrowly failing to land what would've been a second Group 1 and that is just one of several pieces of form that suggest he can successfully defy top weight. It is also noteworthy that the horse returned from a four-month break to win at Nad al sheeba back in January, a performance that suggested the horse can go well when fresh and fitness should really be the only thing stopping Presvis here. This does represent the animal's first try on the all-weather but it's fair to say connections would not be taking in this listed affair were they not confident of the horse's ability to act on the track and we'll bank on him doing so as well.

Tranquil Tiger is officially rated thesecond best horse in the race and whilst that standard is some way short of that set by the likely favourite it does reflect the fact that Henry Cecil's horse is a solid performer for this level. Indeed, the mount of Tom Queally landed a listed race on his seasonal debut back in May before struggling and can go well here with a break hopefully having helped freshen the horse up. As with our selection the five-year-old is making his all-weather debut today but is bred to go on the surface and may take some pegging back if being bounced out in customary fashion.

Suits Me is probably a better horse on the all-weather than he is on the turf and took a listed race here back in February. That victory ahead of fellow all-weather specialist Dansant showed the horse can be effective at this level but the feeling is that this is no ordinary listed race and Tom Tate's gelding may have to fill a supporting role here.

Of the others Plum Pudding has had a cracking season and has placed on the polytrack before whilst General Elliott was not far behind him last time, but we will select Presvis as our confident selection to make class tell in the last.