Matthew Sutcliffe

Ascot

• 13:25

  Jet To Vegas

  9/4 1pt WIN JET TO VEGAS appeared to get his act together over fences on his seasonal debut, having previously been 0/3 over them last season, and he looks to be well handicapped off 135, with Lucas Murphy taking off a further 7lb. The Jet Away gelding was a talented hurdler with form figures of 22114, the latter win coming in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso, and connections obviously deemed him classy enough to step up to the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, where he finished a 24-length fourth behind Salvator Mundi. The switch to chasing last season was far from a disaster at a time when the yard was quiet, as he finished second on debut to Kingston Pride at Perth before splitting the 142-rated Thomas Mor and the 153-rated Lucky Place, the former finishing second to Kitzbuhel in the Kauto Star. He failed to justify favouritism on his handicap debut and subsequently returned to hurdles after wind surgery, finishing sixth in a valuable handicap at Aintree. His return to fences saw him put in a dominant performance at Market Rasen, travelling all over the field and pulling a length clear of a subsequent winner. Given the aforementioned form, and the fact connections are happy to travel down to Ascot, I’d suggest they share the view that he’s well handicapped off 135 and can continue his progression. https://news.gg.co.uk/ascot-wetherby-preview-four-to-watch-matty-sutcliffe-saturday-31st-october/

  Lost @ 9/4-£1.00
• 14:00

  Haas BoyE/W

  7/1 1pt EW 4 places HAAS BOY has form figures of 11226112 since joining Chester Williams, who’s clearly unlocked improvement in him via the tongue tie and cheekpieces, and there appears to be plenty left in the tank. He signed off last season with a course-and-distance success over Authoceltic, and that came after beating a progressive rival by ten lengths at Wincanton. He shaped as if in need of the outing on his reappearance this season, when beaten a neck over hurdles at Chepstow. Chester Williams had a winner over fences earlier this week with one who’d had a spin over hurdles, so Haas Boy looks to have been well primed for this, and he looks to have an excellent chance off bottom weight. https://news.gg.co.uk/ascot-wetherby-preview-four-to-watch-matty-sutcliffe-saturday-31st-october/

  Lost @ 7/1-£1.00
• 15:43

  ParchmentE/W

  16/1 1pt EW 5 places PARCHMENT came highly recommended from France last season and was evidently well regarded enough to make his debut in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. He was a non-runner on account of the ground, and was subsequently sent off a warm favourite at Kempton under a 7lb penalty. He jumped well throughout, but shaped as if miles behind his rivals physically and was looked after once his chance had gone. He had wind surgery thereafter and returned from a 149-day break to finish a 14-length fourth at Taunton. It was a similar scenario, as he again weakened late on despite initially travelling well. I’d suggest he’s a typical French horse who’s required plenty of acclimatising to Britain, and given how positive the reports were, he’s not one to give up on. He beat Pourquoi Pas Papa, who’s now rated 130 for Paul Nicholls, on his sole French start. Off a mark of 116, he’s bound to come good at some point, and given he goes well fresh, this looks a good race in which to begin getting his career back on track. https://news.gg.co.uk/ascot-wetherby-preview-four-to-watch-matty-sutcliffe-saturday-31st-october/

  Lost @ 16/1-£1.00