Jacquart Noel Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 12:46 | Winning time: 5m 38.82s

Angels Breath²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151| C

1/5

Ready winner of the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle on this card last year; proficient over his fences on chasing debut here (2m3f) recently, beating the subsequent Hereford scorer First Flow by 8L; the perfect chance to make it 3-3 at Ascot.

Form: 1/1273-1

Mont Des Avaloirs²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

4/1

Reverted to hurdles last season after making an unsuccessful and somewhat disappointing chasing debut at Newton Abbot (2m, heavy); much better this time around when finishing 7½L fourth to Champ at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago.

Form: 2307P-4

Forecasts

Angels Breath (1/5), Mont Des Avaloirs (4/1)

Ascot's Friday card gets underway with a straight match between Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls and while it's not quite Altior versus Cyrname this time around, both of these horses are reasonably highly rated (140's/150's bracket) over hurdles and fences. Although it was encouraging to see an improved round of fencing from Mont Des Avaloirs at Newbury (finished fourth to the most promising Champ), ANGELS BREATH is already a Grade 2 hurdle winner (the Kennel Gate) and looks much more straightforward overall.