2:25 Ascot Tips

Let It Rain won twice in bumpers in 2023 and made a good start to last season, finishing second on her hurdles debut at Chepstow in November before winning the Wetherby Mares' Novices' Hurdle by 8 lengths later that month. She makes her handicap debut off what looks a fair mark and has been found a good opportunity by the Skelton yard.

Rex Dingle left his challenge from the back of the field on Dance And Glance far too late to get better than 4th, beaten seven lengths here last time. But dropped back a pound to a mark of 116, he gets another chance to get his first win of the season.

The White/Hobbs-trained 6yo is due to go novice chase, but connections must be confident he can win a handicap hurdle from his current mark. Indeed, he would have done so but for fiddly errors in the latter stages of both his races.

Beat the subsequently smart mare Sunset Marquesa on hurdles debut last season by a whopping 13l and though hasn't won since has some fair form in the book now. Was 5th on seasonal debut in a competitive Cheltenham handicap and looked the likely winner at one stage, but probably didn't stay there and appreciated the drop back to 2m next time. Caught the eye again travelling well before getting collared by a fair mare last time and was miles clear of the third too m, so hopefully arrives here primed to run a big race now. Lightly enough raced and though flatter tracks seem to suit will like the soft ground and could have much more to offer this season. Travels sweetly and is a cracking EW play with the 5 places on offer.

Harry Cobden will have learned a lot about this horse when winning narrowly on him last time out, and as a result of that narrow win he's only gone up 2 lb. He showed a good attitude too, and the 4yo is likely to be progressing at a quicker rate than many of his rivals here. Looks likely to be very competitive here, and this bigger field and stronger pace should also play to his strengths.

King William Rufus is dropping in class here, with his last five runs being in Class 3s and 1s. He's proven he can win at Ascot, having won here this time last year. He seems to run better in slower-paced races, with all his triple-figure FSP% coming from even or slow races. The forecast sets this up for a weak pace. There might be an argument that slightly firmer ground would suit him better, but soft ground won't be too much of a worry. Given that Let It Rain has not been seen for nearly a year, I'm prepared to take an each-way chance with five places available even with his high mark.

Gary and Josh Moore have two horses at Ascot from their stables at Lower Beeding, W. Sussex, and they are in this race. The other one is five-year-old Peking Opera, who is back after 375 days off. He's A Latchio won at Leicester on soft ground. Winning at Leicester does not give great vibes, but this son of Fast Company will be well at home on soft ground. He is racing off 114, six pounds more than the Leicester win, and that was his second run of the season. Progress can be acknowledged for a big run here with Tom Queally in the saddle, who knows the gelding well. The stable has had 10 winners from 39 runners in the past two weeks. They are in fine fettle, and this one has been supported into 12/1. A solid performance could be on show.

This looks wide open, but at 18/1 Paramount looks a decent wager. His first run over hurdles in a while saw him post a solid second in the same grade at Doncaster. He remains on a good mark and could pinch this from the front.

Looks overpriced at 40s. Nine-day turnaround and trip were excuses last time, and reverting to the bare 2m will suit here. By Camelot, he won't mind the ground and is a decent bet to get in the top 5.

She caused quite a stir when winning a seven-runner maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter last month. However, she was outclassed under a penalty in a significantly tougher race at Newbury next time out. Now she drops to 2m and faces a challenging opening mark. Yet with Richard Patrick, who guided her to that victory at Uttoxeter, back in the saddle, the duo could produce another surprise at generous 50/1 each-way odds.