We launch a dual attack on the valuable Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday

December 19

Alan has twice won Ascot’s valuable Ladbrokes premier handicap hurdle, and, being doubly-represented in Saturday’s renewal with Favour And Fortune and 2021 winner Tritonic, he feels he has an each-way chance of bagging at least some of the £125,000 prize money on offer.

Favour And Fortune will be having his first race since he won the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr last April, but he is a horse who does not take a lot of getting ready and Alan was pleased how well he worked at Barbury on Wednesday morning.

He said:”Raya Star won this race for us in 2011, having captured Ayr’s biggest hurdle race the previous season, and Favour And Fortune has always been a horse I like a lot.

“He suffered a hock injury which has prevented him from having a prep-race, but he has come to hand quicker than I expected after that setback, and, while he’ll improve on whatever he does after such a long absence, he is fit enough and could run a big race provided they don’t have too much rain at Ascot between now and Saturday.

“This race has also long been the target for Tritonic, who is 6lb lower than when he won the race three years ago, He is such a versatile horse, having won three hurdles, one Flat race and three chases, and he also finished third in last year’s Ascot Stakes, so this track clearly suits him. ”

Should there be plenty of rain around the north west of the country, it would improve the chances of the mud-loving Egbert in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock.

Alan added:”Egbert probably found the ground too quick on his comeback at Exeter, where he also lost a shoe. I think we can put a line through that performance as he was quite sore when he came back, but he has been working well since and the step up in trip will also suit him. Granted, consistency is not his strong point – he’s other very good or very bad, but I’m hoping Saturday might be a going day.”

Admiralty House also runs at Haydock in the handicap hurdle, and Alan hopes that he can settle better than he did at Doncaster last time. He said:”That was very frustrating as he pulled far too hard and eventually unseated his rider at the last. He was always free on the Flat and has never been easy, so we have come to accept that he is not the type who will relax in behind and this could be the time when we change tactics and make the running on him.”

Alan has tomorrow’s Listed bumper at Ascot in mind for Blues Singer for a while now and is hoping for another big run. Alan said:”I think Blues Singer is a good horse and until he tells me otherwise I will treat him like one.

“He won well on his debut at Kempton last season and, though it was disappointing when he was caught on the post and beaten a nose here last month, he was running under a penalty so it was still a good effort. He’s a fine, big horse who will benefit waiting until next season before going hurdles.”