Cue Card to steal Bristol De Mai’s Thunder in Lancashire Chase

A handful of intriguing renewals

There’s a cracking couple of meetings to look forward to on Saturday as the ITV cameras head to Haydock and Ascot.

A host of stars will be on show with a Grade One and a couple of Grade Two renewals including the Lancashire Chase and Ascot Hurdle.

As ever, the Coral News Team select their best bet and take a look at the other key storylines from the day’s action.

Bet of the Day

Everyone and their dog will be backing Bristol De Mai to win the Grade One Lancashire Chase.

However, it’s a highly competitive field and at such short prices, it might be prudent to look further down the betting.

What better place to look than Colin Tizzard’s veteran star, Cue Card.

The 11-year-old disappointingly fell last time out at the Charlie Hall Chase. But the fantastic chaser has won this race three times before, enjoys the course, and will love the soft ground.

This could be his last season before retirement and this renewal could be his last chance to truly shine. That means Cue Card is Coral’s Bet of the Day.

Defi Du Seuil to down the rest of the field

It’s off to Ascot now for the Grade Two Ascot Hurdle. And it looks a very interesting renewal, too.

Defi Du Seuil, L’Ami Serge, and Lil Rockefeller are all included. A winner will surely come from that trio.

As a winner of the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, Defi Du Seuil’s favouritism at the head of the betting is probably deserved.

Phillip Hobbs’ four-year-old was seven from seven last term and should get this season off to a bright start.

L’Ami Serge and Lil Rockefeller are cracking horses but too inconsistent at this point to back against such quality.

Top Notch chance

Staying at Ascot, the Coral News Team really like the look of Top Notch’s chances in the Christy 1965 Chase.

This Grade Two renewal has a healthy-looking field with both Smad Place and Top Notch currently heading the betting.

Nicky Henderson’s Top Notch was disappointing on his last time out at Aintree earlier in the month, clipping the final fence to finish last of three.

Connections are confident he’ll go well here, though – particularly because he enjoys the soft ground.

Smad Place will be tough to beat but it’s Top Notch’s to lose.

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing