Top commentator Simon Holt provides two selections for Saturday's TV racing at Haydock and Ascot.
Saturday best bets:
CAPTAIN REDBEARD, a fluent winner of the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock just before Christmas, is fancied to follow-up in Saturday's Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at the same venue.
Stuart Coltherd's gelding has gone up 9lb for his decisive defeat of Catamaran Du Seuil under Sam Coltherd last time when appearing to relish a step up in trip from two-and-a-half miles to two miles and seven furlongs.
Captain Redbeard has another quarter mile to cover here but it's hard to believe he won't stay given the way he drew clear after the final fence last time in heavy ground, and his record on the course is two wins and two placings from four visits.
The nine-year-old has run well on each start this season, finishing third to Cyrus Darius at Ayr first time out and was then hampered four out when travelling well, eventually finishing sixth to Gas Line Boy in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the big fences at Aintree. Despite the weight rise, he is just 5lb above his previous ratings high yet he definitely looks on the up.
Captain Redbeard is not the only improving horse in the field, however, as Walk In The Mill recorded another good effort behind Gold Present at Ascot last time and has left all previous form behind this season, though there might be a small doubt about him on really testing ground.
Tintern Theatre also comes into the race in good form after his recent Kempton win and Forest Des Aigles has won all three of his starts this season for Lucinda Russell albeit at a lower level.
Haydock in the heavy can be a specialists combination so, along with the selection, I would expect Hainan, up 8lb for finishing clear of his rivals here in November, to relish the conditions.
At Ascot, Un De Sceaux is the big attraction in his bid for a third victory in the Royal Salute Whisky Clarence House Chase but he makes little appeal as a betting proposition at likely cramped odds.
A machine on deep ground, the hugely-talented 10-year-old can find two miles on the sharp side on a quicker surface and, should conditions dry out, the novice Brain Power (well backed earlier this week) could certainly give him a run for his money. However, should soft ground prevail, advertised with good to soft places at the time of writing, then he will surely take the beating if anywhere near his best.
Earlier, the booking of star conditional James Bowen, who takes off an incredibly good value 5lb, looks eye-catching aboard recent Kempton winner Jenkins in the Ascot Spring Garden Show Holloway's Handicap Hurdle.
Long held in high regard by trainer Nicky Henderson, who clicked with Bowen in last week's Lanzarote (William Henry), the fitting of blinkers for the first time seemed to inspire him at Kempton on the same card and a subsequent 11lb rise is certainly offset by his rider's allowance.
Jenkins could well go in again but he doesn't look totally straightforward, and there is another potentially well handicapped rival here in LE BREUIL who it turns out faced a tough task when failing by six lengths to give last week's Warwick winner Black Ivory 19lb at Aintree in early December.
With that rival now up 12lb, Ben Pauling's charge certainly makes plenty of appeal here, especially with ground conditions in his favour.
Le Breuil almost certainly needs some cut underfoot as he has been beaten three times on good going but, when soft has appeared in the description, he boasts two wins and that second last time.
Pauling could have run the useful Kildisart in this race, but relies on the selection.
Recommended bets:
2pts win Captain Redbeard 3.15 Haydock at 9/1
2pts win Le Breuil 2.25 Ascot at 7/1
Posted at 1240 GMT 19/01/2018