Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 5m 25.60s

Coney Island⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: E P Harty| OR: 162| CD

10/3

Continues to improve and this trip/ground clearly ideal, but may need to jump better early than he did here last time, looking well beaten at one stage before leader stopped quickly. Still looks a big player here, with the Gold Cup on the agenda too

Form: 1/2212-1

Cue Card^t⁸⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 168| CD

9/1

Has been a great servant to connections over the years, clearly not the force of old now and this is probably more his level. Won this easily last year but this is a tougher contest, and his jumping has once again become a worry.

Form: 21F2-F2

Frodon^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 164| D

9/1

Had looked to have found his level until taking it up a notch at Cheltenham on latest start, winning a competitive handicap under top weight with ease. Deserves a crack at a good prize and if repeating that effort, won't be far away here.

Form: 5-32321

Speredek^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 154

22/1

Has been a joy to watch over the past 12 months, improving over two stones, tried to serve it up to Un De Sceaux here last time and finishing an honourable second. Trip is the worry here, as best form at shorter, but won't fail for trying.

Form: 11-1212

Top Notch⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 164| CD

9/4

Ran a stormer to finish second to Yorkhill in last season's Arkle, and won the 1965 Chase here in December with a degree of authority. Ideally better ground would suit but handles soft, and on form shown this season, looks the one to beat.

Form: 123-311

Traffic Fluide⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 151

66/1

Looked a novice chaser of great potential but it's all rather unravelled and you now have to go back almost three years to find his last win. No problem with conditions but masses to find on form now, and not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 632-457

Waiting Patiently³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 156| D

2/1

Flawless 5-5 over fences so far and hugely impressive when taking a Listed race at Kempton last time, winning with even more in hand than the official margin. Finds all tracks alike and no reason not to go close to keeping that perfect record here.

Form: 1/111-11

Forecasts

Waiting Patiently (2/1), Top Notch (9/4), Coney Island (10/3), Cue Card (9/1), Frodon (9/1), Speredek (22/1), Traffic Fluide (66/1)

A cracking renewal of this contest and the winner is likely to play a part in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival next month. WAITING PATIENTLY is taken to come out on top after a monster performance at Kempton last time out and looks like a champion in waiting at this sort of trip. Top Notch isn't the biggest in stature but it doesn't stop him and he's capable of top class performances on his day. Speredek could be the fly in the ointment if he gets this trip - he ran gamely in defeat behind Un De Sceaux here last time, keeping on well, and he has a chance if able to get loose. Cue Card may not be the force of old but he'd bring the house down if he could roll back the years one more time.