With their fingers firmly crossed that tomorrow’s Ascot meeting survives the wintry weather, Norton trainers John Quinn and Brian Ellison will both be strongly represented in the richest handicap hurdle of the season.

Quinn saddles Recession Proof, while Ellison will be doubly represented by Bothy and Palomar in the £150,000 Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle, which takes pride of place on the Ascot card and which will be televised live on Channel 4.

Recession Proof is marginally preferred of the North Yorkshire trio.

Winner of two of his three races since switching from Flat to hurdling, Recession Proof looks an exciting prospect, with the best of him probably still to be seen, given his relative inexperience.

Bothy, in receipt of a lot of weight, made Champion Hurdle contender Menorah pull out all the stops at Cheltenham last month, and deserves plenty of respect for that effort, while the versatile Palomar, winner of a valuable race at Market Rasen, has since confirmed his well-being on the Flat.

All three horses from this neck of the woods have solid chances of striking it rich. Recession Proof is the one most fancied to land the lion’s share.

Big Buck’s is the star attraction in the other feature race, the £100,000 BGC Long Walk Hurdle, which he won last season.

The outstanding staying hurdler of modern times, Big Buck’s, trained by Paul Nicholls, won without being asked a serious question at Newbury last month on his reappearance.

Tony McCoy, in the saddle on that occasion, takes the mount again tomorrow, deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh.

The graduation chase offers Punchestowns the opportunity to start the season on a winning note.

Nicky Henderson’s gelding was one of last season’s leading staying novice chasers. He looks likely to continue to climb the chasing ladder this term and, under Barry Geraghty, he is expected to take plenty of beating.

The best of tomorrow’s all-weather action comes from Lingfield, where North Yorkshire trainer Tom Tate has good prospects of winning the Quebec Stakes, a Listed race over ten furlongs, with Suits Me.

The seven-year-old ran well to finish third in a similar race over this course and distance four weeks ago and may not have to improve much on that performance to step up to the number one slot tomorrow. Micky Fenton, who knows him well, takes the mount.

Nap selection Western Aristocrat promises to be hard to beat under George Baker in the totesport.com Novice Stakes.

Trained by Jeremy Noseda, the juvenile created a good impression when making a winning debut at Newmarket in October. He looks a colt with a bright future and, provided he handles this switch to Polytrack, he has every chance of following up.

The CW Surfacing Conditions Stakes hosts the reappearance of Rakaan, who will be partnered by Kieren Fallon.

Jamie Osborne’s three-year-old progressed nicely on grass earlier this year and wound up with creditable runner-up efforts at Goodwood and Newmarket. He resumes his career here after a four-month break and, as long as he is fit enough, he promises to make a successful comeback.

Also worthy of attention are recent winners Jawaab (3.05) and Picansort (3.35).


Racing selections

Ascot (selected races)
1.30 Punchestowns, 2.00 Big Buck’s, 2.35 Recession Proof.

Lingfield
11.50 Arowana, 12.20 Western Aristocrat (NAP), 12.50 Sheila’s Bond, 1.20 Rakaan, 1.55 Suits Me, 2.30 Jawaab, 3.00 Picansort, 3.35 Wanchai Whisper. Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Haydock and Newcastle. Today’s meetings:
Ascot, Southwell, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.