Golden Ace has been pleasing connections ahead of Ascot return © Photo Healy Racing
Jeremy Scott’s top mare Golden Ace will get her campaign under way on Saturday in the Howden Ascot Hurdle.
The six-year-old came into her own last term in her first season hurdling, winning all four starts including the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and then a Listed event at the same track over an extended two-and-a-half-mile trip.
She defeated Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead at the Festival, with that mare winning both starts since in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and the Bottlegreen Hurdle at Down Royal on her debut this term.
Those performances bode well for Golden Ace, who begins her own season at Grade Two level over a trip just shy over two and half miles.
“She had a bit of a hold up, which is why she’s not run before now, but ground-wise we probably couldn’t have run her anyway,” said Scott.
“She’s grand – like most of my horses, she will probably come on for the run.
“We’ve left plenty to work with but otherwise she’s in very good form.
“Two (miles and) three (furlongs) around Ascot may prove to be a little bit far for her given her fitness but it will be interesting to see, for her first run we are happy going into it anyway.”
Also set to run is Paul Nicholls’ Blueking d’Oroux, winner of the contest last season when prevailing by a length from subsequent Liverpool Hurdle hero Strong Leader.
“He won this Grade Two race in style 12 months ago aged four and the horse he beat subsequently won a Grade One,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“Blueking d’Oroux did nothing but improve all winter and I think the best is yet to come from him. I’ve had this race in mind for him since he came back into training in July and it looks as though he has Golden Ace to beat.”
Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader may not be present this time, but his stablemate Thunder Rock makes his seasonal debut in the race under Sean Bowen.
Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place has not been seen since finishing fourth in the Coral Cup last term and returns to action in partnership with Nico de Boinville, with Gary and Josh Moore’s Salver also making a comeback after a similar absence, since his last run was a third-placed effort in the Triumph.
The sole Irish raider is Lorna Fowler’s Colonel Mustard, who lines up with a run under his belt having placed second at Sligo in October.
Ascot’s Saturday card will also be the scene of a first appearance this term for Scott’s popular veteran Dashel Drasher, who is due to run in the Copybet 1965 Chase.
A seasoned campaigner who switches between hurdles and fences, the 11-year-old has been seen to good effect around Ascot before and was third in this race in 2021.
“He’s been in really good form at home, he’s back over fences but we’re not going to get the rain they were originally predicting, so the ground may not be quite as soft as would be ideal for him,” said Scott.
“He’s certainly in very good form at home, there’s no loss of enthusiasm at all at the moment.
“We’ll be happy to have him come home safe and jump a clear round – that will be great.”
Nicholls runs the reigning champion Pic D’Orhy, who defeated a small field to prevail by 16 lengths 12 months ago.
“He has a great record on his first run of the season, excels at Ascot and returns there looking to win this Grade Two chase for the second year running,” he said.
“The ground was a bit quicker than ideal for him that day and he will be much happier with conditions at Ascot this time. This looks an ideal race for Pic D’Orhy, who has been working tidily at home and has a big chance.”
The line-up is slightly bigger this time around but not by a large margin, as the Moore-trained Le Patron, Dan Skelton’s Flegmatik and Neil Mulholland’s Hidden Depths complete the group.
