Horse named Sou looks a value bet

Double Thriller was fourth in the 1999 Gold Cup but has been since been brought low with breathing problems. Like Mulligan, he has shown his best form on better ground. Smarty overcame an absence of nearly two years at Leicester last month, but runs again very quickly in this, his toughest task yet. Any more rain would be against him.

Still a novice, Moral Support won Chepstow's Rehearsal Chase easing down. But he was chased home by extreme-distance stayers that day and, with the Welsh National his main aim, from a 12lb higher mark he looks vulnerable to some smarter types over this trip. Eau de Cologne is also progressive, but needs a sounder surface.

Instead, despite being 2lb 'wrong' at the weights, Arlequin de Sou can build upon the improved form he showed at Cheltenham a week ago. This French-bred revelled in the sticky ground to beat some worthy rivals out of sight and can improve further. He does tackle three miles for the first time, but has always looked like getting it. Royal Predica would be dangerous if handling the trip and foregoing his usual errors, while dour stayer Lancastrian Jet has won first time out before and will be helped by the soft ground.

Only heavy-ground specialist stayers need apply for the Cantor Index Long Walk Hurdle - and there aren't many of them. Deano's Beeno has form on a soft, rather than heavy, surface but his acute lack of consistency more off-putting. Lady Rebecca is yet to prove she possesses stamina enough for three miles, let alone on ground like this.

Only Teaatral, Kates Charm and Sallie's Girl answer on all counts, although French raider Baracouda was denied by just half a length by French Champion Hurdler, Le Sauvignon, in an Auteuil Grade One event on heavy ground last month. He looks the value bet from a trainer who has a high strike rate in top-class events on these shores.

Teaatral was highly progressive last season for his patient handler, Charlie Egerton, and must rate the main danger. Both Celtic Native and Sallie's Girl ran well behind Deano's Beeno at Newbury - the former is improving all the time and the latter has won since. But Kates Charm will find this a lot tougher than her last visit to Ascot.

In the opening Capel Cure Sharp Novices' Hurdle, Hitman would be hard to beat if lining up but trainer Mark Pitman may not want to run him so soon after his admirable fourth behind Geos in last Saturday's Bula. In his absence, the ability to cope with heavy ground could prove crucial among such an inexperienced field.

On the Flat, Life Is Life only won once - on heavy going at Kempton. But she was fifth in the Ascot Gold Cup and even ran Group One winner, Daliapour, to three-quarters of a length in Chester's Ormonde Stakes. She was bought with the Champion Hurdle in mind and made a promising debut over this course-and-distance last month.

This is her first real test, but she's fancied to pass with flying colours. While he may prefer a sounder surface, Reiziger's superior experience can stand him in good stead here. He's a real main threat after turning in his best effort yet when beating Palouse at Cheltenham last month.

Ascot selections: 1.30, Hitman (if absent, Life Is Life); 2.00, 1 Arlequin de Sou 2 Gingembre 3 Windross; 2.35, Baracouda.