IT'S REACHED that time of year when the weather beings to play havoc with our race meetings and frost is the big threat to Ascot’s card this Saturday.  Should the racing go ahead the feature is the Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle.  This race is stuffed full of quality and is made even more intriguing with the inclusion of the once all-conquering Black Jack Ketchum.  Since his Novice season Jonjo O’Neill’s star has perplexed many who watched him, as he continually found nothing off the bridle after travelling like the winner throughout the race.  A breathing problem was diagnosed and addressed but he was, again, unconvincing in his close reappearance win at Weatherby and the jury is still out on his attitude.  One horse’s attitude you cannot question is that of the dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace.  Stepping up to 3m for the first time since his Novice season Dessie Hughes’s champion has a 100 percent record at Ascot and provided the trip isn’t beyond the evergreen 10-year-old he can continue his impressive Ascot record.  His main danger appears to be Chief Dan George.  A Grade One winner at the Aintree festival in April he should be a lot sharper for his reappearance run and the application of a first time visor.  The expansion of all weather racing in England sees a new listed race run at Lingfield this weekend.  The Robert Leech Quebec Stakes is run over Lingfield’s 10f course and features the massive Winter Derby winner Gentleman’s Deal.  This race is likely to be run at a crawl before a sprint down the final straight and therefore I’m going to select a horse who has a great turn of foot, Grand Passion.  The Geoff Wragg trained runner out sprinted Gentleman’s Deal in a listed race over course and distance in November and provided they don’t all stack up on him rounding the final bend can do so again.

 Merry Christmas.

 Selections – 1.40 Ascot, 3 Hardy Eustace

                                                               3.40 Lingfield, 2 Grand Passion