By Nick Robson, Press Association
No Questions Asked should be suited by a slight drop in trip for the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot on Friday.
Ben Pauling’s charge looked sure to win a classy Grade Two at Newbury last time put over two and a half miles.
Last off the bridle, subsequent winner Regent’s Stroll had cried enough, while Wendigo, who is booked in for a Grade One at Kempton over Christmas, looked beaten.
No Questions Asked shortened going into the last fence, however, and the stronger stayer Wendigo got back up to win by two lengths.
There was no disgrace in that and at the same Grade Two level he can make amends, down in trip by just over a furlong.
Assessing his rivals it is hard to know what Steel Ally achieved in winning a graduation chase at Carlisle and while Jax Junior’s performance looked good on paper at Kempton, neither Jeriko Du Reponet or Miami Magic have looked naturals over fences.
He may have most to fear from northern raider Push The Button, who gave Meetmebythesea, a stablemate of the selection, a real fright at Wetherby.
Pauling could also be on the mark with Dig Deep in the Howden Maiden Hurdle.
Second to the potentially classy Starzand on his hurdling debut, he was surprisingly turned over at odds-on at Warwick.
He beat his main market rivals that day and may simply have just bumped into a smart one.
Chris Gordon has not hidden the regard in which he holds Bass Hunter so there will be a few nerves ahead of the King Edward VII Ascot Membership Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Never one to be shy if he has an opinion, Gordon has already enjoyed a great season and is operating close to a 30 per cent strike-rate, the highlight being a treble at Haydock on Betfair Chase day.
The quality in the yard is steeply rising, but the trainer has said this five-year-old is potentially the best he has had in his 18 years training.
He oozed quality when winning on his rules debut at Newbury and while he faces plenty of other promising types, the game needs characters like Gordon to have really good horses.
There could still be some mileage in the handicap mark of Jane Williams’ Excelero.
He ran a perfectly acceptable race first time out this season when he was just too fresh and fairly bolted up at Warwick last time out.
Upped 7lb in the weights, he was declared for a more competitive race than this at Cheltenham last week but the Howden Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase looks a much better fit.
The Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson team are absolutely flying and Taras Hall can get back to winning ways in the Drywall Contracts Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter.
He is a bit of an in-and-out performer but on his day he is useful.
Marco Botti’s Safe Harbor outran market expectations on debut and looks interesting in the Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Southwell.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
UTTOXETER: Race 1: 13.43 Taras Halls, Race 2: 14.18 Minella Jury, Race 3: 15.53 Coolanna, Race
4: 15.28 Try The Money, Race 5: 16.03 Little Venice, Race 6: 17.38 Drayton Flyer, Race 7: 17.08
Following Chapter.
ASCOT: Race 1: 14.40 El Galactico, Race 2: 15.15 Dig Deep, Race 3: 15.50 Excelero, Race 4: 16.25
Non Stop, Race 5: 17.00 NO QUESTIONS ASKED (NAP), Race 6: 17.35 Bass Hunter.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.05 Sound And Vision, Race 2: 15.40 Taranjerine, Race 3: 16.15 Emma’s
Letter, Race 4: 16.50 Safe Harbor, Race 5: 17.25 Von Krolock, Race 6: 17.55 Ring Of Gold, Race
7: 18.25 Towerlands, Race 8: 18.55 Far Ahead, Race 9: 19.35 Tokyo Joe.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 17.15 Machete, Race 2: 17.45 Justmyluck, Race 3: 17.15 Watchdog, Race
4: 17.45 Stepanov, Race 5: 18.15 Forest Caper, Race 6: 19.45 Tasever, Race 7: 20.15 Sherlock,
Race 8: 20.45 Shatin Venture, Race 9: 21.15 Chief Of State.
DOUBLE: No Questions Asked and Bass Hunter (Ascot, Races 5 and 6).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
