Nico de Boinville: “He is the one to beat if back to anywhere near his best”

1.20pm Ascot

Attacca

He carries an 8lb penalty, so this is not going to be straightforward, but he surprised me with how good he was when winning at Cheltenham in November. He jumped really well there and showed a very good attitude. We were all set to step him up to 2m4f in the Challow before he was a late withdrawal there, but he is going well at home and this will tell us if the Ballymore is a realistic option for him. Let’s hope so. We also run Persian King in here and the course winner is certainly not without a chance either, though he also carries an 8lb penalty.

1.50pm Ascot

Bold Endeavour

He has obviously done brilliantly since joining us and he is now up to a mark of 145 after winning at Doncaster last time. The way he jumped there suggests this return to a right-handed track will suit him, and he had earlier won on lively ground at Leicester. He hopefully has a lot more improvement in him, and I think he is probably the one they all have to beat in here. He does step up in trip again, but I can’t see it being an issue myself.

3.00pm Ascot

Glynn

He doesn’t have many miles on the clock for a 9yo but he ran an excellent race on his comeback when third to the progressive Blenkinsop at Newbury on New Year’s Eve and hopefully he can be as competitive here. That Newbury run came on soft ground he has form on good, so he should be fine here.

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3.35pm Ascot

Shishkin

Ascot have done all that they can with the ground in this dry spell, but maybe it will be a late call on his participation. I imagine plenty of others will be in the same boat, though it was good to hear the ground had eased a touch on Thursday morning. We are obviously very keen to get a run into him before Cheltenham as he needs to get a good, solid run on the board after his efforts in the Champion Chase and the Tingle Creek, though we found excuses for both of those runs on account of his bone issues and his soft palate respectively. He obviously won his point over 3m and took the Sidney Banks over 2m3f, so we think this trip could be what he needs now he has turned nine. One thing is for sure, and that he is the one to beat if back to anywhere near his brilliant best, though of course he has it to prove now, we realise that. And the opposition looks very strong too, with Fakir D’Oudairies and Pic D’Orhy in here, and Millers Bank is also not without a chance at his best.

4.45pm Ascot

Between Waters

She won her point just shy of a year ago now, so she is coming off a long absence, but she showed real ability there. She won well, and from subsequent winners too, with the 8-length runner-up scoring by a wide margin on her bumper debut for Charlie Longsdon. She is a nicely bred Walk In The Park mare, and she clearly has plenty of potential.