3:45 Ascot Tips

Le Coq Hardi is yet to win over fences but has started his chasing career well with two 2nds and two 3rds in his first four chases. He exceeded that last time with a 4th of 18 in the Kerry National at Listowel, weakening late on. He tries the three-mile distance again.

Martin Pipe used to target this race, and his son David looks to have a live one in Neon Moon. The 9-year-old goes well fresh and will have his favored good ground.

This horse has only been out of the first 2 twice in 8 runs when going right handed and he was an excellent 2nd here over hurdles on his only previous run at the course. The horse has had a 2nd wind op since his last run and gets the first time visor now too. He's run well after a break before and he's only 2lb higher now than his last win when sent off a hot favourite. That was as a 6yo and he's likely to have come on again as a 7yo and looks the one to beat under ideal trip and ground conditions.

Won first up here last year at this meeting, beating Bad over shorter with that horse showing progressive form since. Won at Newbury in March from that same mark, 6 lbs lower than today, with the 2nd and 3rd, Scarface and Saint Segal, winning since to frank the form.

Courtland appears to have a decent shout at a decent price. He has won a total of nine races, with seven of them being over the larger obstacles. He has winning form at two miles and seven furlongs and tomorrow's forecasted ground conditions. His last two races have seen him finish second and third, racing off the same mark that he has today. The difference about today's race is that he has Shane Fenelon, a five-pound claimer, back on board. Shane has ridden Courtland twice before, and each time finished in the frame.

This bumper/hurdles champion has shown remarkable performance over bigger obstacles lately, returning to victory at Cartmel in August, and then decisively winning again at Uttoxeter. He demonstrated further improvement, even though he narrowly missed out on his hat-trick at Kelso. With an excellent stable and a top notch jockey who has a 5lb claim, placing an each-way bet at 22/1 offers fantastic value.

Two For Gold is a 12yo now but has run well in the last two renewals, finishing 2nd from a mark of 154 and then 4th last year from 151. Loves it at Ascot and his yard normally have their horses ready to roll at this time of year - I fancy he can outrun his odds even carrying top weight.