Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Boyne Hurdle preview

Newbury, Saturday

The Betfair Hurdle (3.15pm) is one of the most competitive handicaps run all year in Britain and we’ve got another Willie Mullins hotpot at the head of the market. Ocastle Des Mottes is very hard to quantify on his first start for Mullins, having had plenty of starts in France, but the one I like is Lookaway.

He met Iberico Lord in the Greatwood Hurdle in November and, while he was beaten that day, he’s three pounds better off here and that might well be enough. He was second in the Challow Hurdle behind Captain Teague last time and, if he was trained by bigger connections, he’d be a much shorter price.

He’s very consistent and looks to have the right credentials for this sort of race.

Naas, Saturday

There are only six runners in the opener (1.20pm), but I’m very keen on Lark In The Mornin. I think he’s a horse that is progressing and has taken well to jumping, having won on the Flat in Listowel. These are calmer waters than he’s been experiencing in maidens and he’s favourably treated in this field.

I’m hoping he can get the day off to a good start!

The Opera Hat Mares Chase (3.40pm) is the feature race and all eyes will be on Allegorie De Vassy and Riviere D’etel, who meet again after the latter’s victory at Fairyhouse. Both are very talented but I like Maskada. She was behind El Fabiolo over two miles at Cork and, while she was beaten by Allegorie De Vassy earlier this season at Clonmel over 2m4f, I think this two-mile trip is better for her.

She’s rated the same as Allegorie De Vassy but receives eight pounds from her. This is her time of year and I expect her to serve it up to the big two.

Many of the hunter chasers in the hunters’ chase (4.15pm) will have a view to going to Cheltenham next month and I like the look of Its On The Line, who was second at Cheltenham last year. He fell at Aintree but has come back in good form this year, including when winning at Down Royal and, with Derek O’Connor doing the steering, he’s the one for me.

Navan, Sunday

The opener (1.45pm) at Sunday at Naas looks a very deep contest, with a Group 1 winner on the Flat in Helvic Dream, a French import by Frankel for Willie Mullins called Gaucher, an unraced Masked Marvel gelding for Barry Connell called Claude Du Val and Ascending.

Ascending is where I’m landing as his official rating of 133 sets the standard. He was fifth to Lossiemouth in last year’s Triumph and he’s run really well in two maiden hurdles so far this year. There might be some very talented types in here, but they’ll do well to match him first time up.

One of the most exciting novices in training in Brighterdaysahead (2.15pm) having won all four of her career starts so far. She’s avoided all of the other Irish hotpots to come here and she should have too much ability for her rivals here. I think she’s a very good mare and I’m hoping she can prove it here.