Alex Hammond's tips and blog ahead of the weekend's horse racing

This weekend I’m looking forward to heading to Ascot for their two-day November Racing Weekend fixture and you’ll be able to see it all live with me and the team on Sky Sports Racing.

There’s some cracking action to look ahead to and a number of horses I can’t wait to see.

The first of those is Chantry House in Friday’s opening novices’ chase. Only three horses have been declared, but it was a similar story in 2019 with just four going to post and it proved to be a high-quality contest.

Nicky Henderson has won the race for the past two years and Chantry House ought to continue that run on his seasonal reappearance. We last saw him at the Cheltenham Festival where he finished third to stablemate Shishkin in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the sponsors of that race have him at 14/1 for the Marsh Novices’ Chase and 20/1 for the Sporting Life Arkle at this season’s Festival.

Espoire De Guye was a horse I followed last season and he looks to have a good chance of winning the two mile five furlong handicap chase on Friday (2.05pm) on his seasonal debut.

His form from last season looks strong with a second place to Simply The Betts on his reappearance at Chepstow before winning his next two, including at Ascot over a couple of furlongs shorter. Like many of Venetia Williams’ horses he relishes testing ground, so any further rain will suit and hopefully a recent wind operation will have helped his cause too. He’s still only six and could be set for a decent season.

On to Saturday where Captain Morgs would be an interesting contender in the opening novices’ hurdle if Henderson declares him.

He will have to carry a 5lb penalty thanks to his winning hurdling debut at this track three weeks ago (a race the yard have won in the past with Altior and My Tent Or Yours) and takes a hike up in trip too, but he made a good impression there and I’m keen to keep him on side. He is named after England cricket captain Eoin Morgan, who also is one of the owners, so expectation will be high!

There will be a small field for the Grade Two chase at 2.05, so lacking in quantity, but not in quality. Paul Nicholls has an exceptional record in this race winning it numerous times in the last decade with horses like Master Minded, Al Ferof, Politologue and last year with Cyrname.

He has two entered, Black Corton and Real Steel and the latter in an exciting addition to the yard having been switched by the owners from Willie Mullins' team. He might be the highest rated in the field, but Imperial Aura knocked my socks off when winning the Colin Parker Memorial at Carlisle on his reappearance and the sky is the limit for Kim Bailey’s young chaser.

Itchy Feet makes up the four entries and is a Grade One winning novice chaser, but I’m just waiting for the Olly Murphy yard to kick into top gear before following his runners.

Nicholls has another exciting new recruit to look forward to in the Coral Hurdle. Laurina has had her problems, but this talented mare reverts to hurdles in this Grade Two event. Her trainer says this is a starting point and will help them decide whether to go chasing or stick over hurdles. She could face some stiff opposition with the likes of Goshen and Call Me Lord in the race though.

If Goshen runs and puts a couple of disappointing efforts on the flat behind him, he’ll be hard to beat. The plan is to go to Ascot where he would be stepping up in trip, but that shouldn’t be an issue.

The Hurst Park Handicap Chase looks incredibly competitive and I’m interested to see how Ibleo gets on after his agonisingly narrow defeat by Amoola Gold at Ascot’s last meeting. Ibleo is 1lb better off with that one and which could make the difference. I hope so having just got chinned on that occasion.

The Betfair Chase is the big race of the weekend though with some of the usual suspects lining up for the three mile contest at Haydock.

Last year’s winner Lostintranslation represents Colin Tizzard again (5/4 favoruite with Sky Bet) and Bristol De Mai is bidding to win it back having failed in his hat-trick bid 12 months ago (7/4 second favourite).

Nicholls has targeted the race with King George winner Clan Des Obeaux this year and has been making some very positive noises about Sky Bet’s 11/4 third favourite. With the Tizzard team now hitting form I’m wary about jumping ship with Lostintranslation whom I backed to win last year’s Gold Cup after his bold show behind Defi De Seuil in the JLT.

That didn’t quite come off, but this could be his big season. He’s currently 14/1 to go two places better in the 2021 Gold Cup with Sky Bet.

My old pal Documenting is entered to run in the feature race at Lingfield on Saturday (1.45pm) and I hope to see him add to his win in this race last year.

Trainer Kevin Frost has booked apprentice Ray Dawson to take the ride and the jockey has struck up a good relationship with this horse having won on him twice recently. His 3lbs allowance could be crucial in this repeat bid as the race looks hotter than it was 12 months ago.

He is still the highest rated though and his recent narrow win last month shows he comes here in good form. He might be seven now but looks as good as ever and I won’t be deserting him any time soon.