Racing Guide: Awesome Ascot card the Friday highlight

Today's pointers come from Ascot and Southwell...

1. Angels to fly at Ascot

A Grade 2 winner over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago, before going on the be seventh in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as well as third in a Grade 1 at Aintree, the sight of Angels Breath having his second try over fences in the Grade 2 Noel Novices' Chase is a great way to get Ascot's two day fixture up and running at 12.45. The Nicky Henderson-trained five year old has scared off all other opposition bar one rival, Mont Des Avaloirs, as he bids to build on his successful debut over fences when scoring decisively at this track last month. Angels Breath is around 12/1 for March's Arkle.

2. Irish raider looks interesting in Berkshire

Trained by Mags Mullins in Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, Debuchet is a fascinating Irish-trained runner in the 13.55 Ascot, meeting a maximum of five rivals as he looks to maintain his unbeaten form over fences after making a successful chase debut at Fairyhouse last month. Mullins was on the mark with her only other runner this week, a 10/1 chance at Naas on Monday.

3. Stellar Supreme trial a must watch

Sparks will fly in the 14.30 Ascot as four outstanding prospects come head to head in the Grade 2 Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle over a trip just shy of two miles. Official ratings point the way to the sole northern challenger among the quartet, Nicky Richards' 142-rated Ribble Valley, a six year old who finds himself unbeaten and on a hat-trick following victories at Hexham and Wetherby. His chances are attractive enough to have persuaded jockey Brian Hughes to swerve Uttoxeter and instead come to Ascot specifically to ride this horse.

4. Dark Angel filly one to watch at Southwell

The 15.20 Southwell is an unusually strong race for this venue, a £12,000 five furlong sprint for horses rated 0-90. It's hard not to be drawn to the claims of Karl Burke's hat-trick seeker Hareem Queen. A filly by Dark Angel, she loves it here and has positively bolted up in her last two starts over course and distance.

5. Noble Behest on a hat-trick

Hareem Queen isn't the only hat-trick seeker on the Southwell Races card because in the race which follows Noble Behest is on the hunt for a three-timer of his own in the two and a quarter mile staying race at 15.50. The Ian Williams-trained gelding is six from 10 on all-weather surfaces and goes up even further in trip today following two mile victories at both Chelmsford and Wolverhampton.