Saturday 20th December 2025
Long Walk Hurdle & Tommy Whittle Chase Day
NAP: HONESTY POLICY – (2.25)
NB: MONDO MAN – (3.35)
1.50 Ascot: GENERAL MEDRANO ran well here on his seasonal reappearance when finishing fourth of ten behind Teddy Blue; he didn’t follow that run up at Newbury last time out, however, he’s been dropped three pounds as a result, and has started to look well-handicapped. If he returns to the form of his run here on his penultimate outing, he’d have a chance under Sean Bowen. (6/1) (Each-Way)
2.05 Haydock: SALADINS SON is a progressive seven-year-old for Anthony Honeyball, he won two of his three starts over fences last term, including a fifty-six length success in a small-runner affair at Wincanton in March. He posted a very encouraing effort on his seasonal reappearance at this track last month, finishing second of seven in a competitive handicap chase over today’s trip. He’ll contest this from the same mark and has a solid chance, given his low weight. (11/2) (Each-Way) (4 places)
2.25 Ascot: HONESTY POLICY showed a rapid amount of progression at the end of last season, winning three races in a row, culminating with Grade 1 success in the novice event at Aintree in April, getting the better of the exciting Regent’s Stroll in the process. Before finishing half of a length second to Cheltenham Festival winner Jasmin De Vaux at the Punchestown Festival, when stepped up in trip to three miles. That form speaks for itself, and he could prove to be a big player within a staying division that doesn’t look the strongest. Gordon Elliott’s yard has been in fine form so far this term, and this looks like another live contender. (5/2) (Win) (NAP)
2.40 Haydock: SUPREME MALINAS was a wide-margin winner of an Irish point before being trained by the Skeltons, and didn’t take long to show that she’s a classy mare, winning a Listed bumper on just her second start under rules. It also didn’t take her long to open her account over hurdles, winning impressively on debut at Exeter last month by four lengths, getting the better of the reopposing A Path To Ronda in the process. There’s likely a lot more to come from her, and she can have a big say here if she takes another step forward. (3/1) (Win)
3.00 Ascot: VICTTORINO has won the last two runnings of this race, and has an excellent record over course and distance. As has been the case with most of the yard’s runners this term, he likely needed the run when finishing down the field in the Coral Gold Cup last time out, and he should be in peak condition to go well again in this race, off just a three-pound higher mark than his success last year. Venetia Williams has also started to fire in winners again. (6/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
3.00 Ascot: DEEP CAVE signed off his campaign last term with a win in a competitive Grade 3 handicap hurdle at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in April, and opened his account over fences on these shores on his seasonal reappearance at Bangor last month over three miles, beating The Doyen Chief by two and a quarter of a length. His Bangor success came on heavy ground, so he shouldn’t have any issues with a testing surface, and there could be further improvement. (15/2) (Each-Way) (4 places)
3.35 Ascot: MONDO MAN hasn’t been the most straightforward horse to train for the Moores; however, he’s always been held in high regard since he came over from the flat in France, and finished second to Lulamba on stable debut. He ran well on the flat in these shores in the Spring, notably, finishing three lengths behind Illinois at Chester in May, and he was only beaten by half of a length by Mossy Fen Road on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles last month. He could prove to be very generously weighted on handicap debut here, and a big showing wouldn’t be a surprise. (3/1) (Win) (NB)
