Angels Breath among the intriguing entries for informative Ascot card

Entries for Ascot's pair of Graded novice events next Friday offer the promise of an early start to the weekend for fans with one eye on the big spring festivals.

The Jacquart Noel Novices' Chase has gone to future stars such as Politologue and Simonsig in recent years, and the latter's trainer Nicky Henderson has entered Angels Breath for the 2m5f Grade 2. The five-year-old kicked off his chasing career in convincing fashion at the track last month.

Although only five feature at the six-day stage, the presence of the smart Dashel Drasher could ensure this will be a decent test for Angels Breath, who made an impressive winning debut over hurdles for Henderson on this card a year ago.

That success came in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle, which has attracted nine entries ahead of Friday's meeting.

Nicky Richards rarely ventures to the big southern tracks just to take the air and Brian Hughes is already jocked up on the promising Ribble Valley, a dual bumper winner who made it two from two over hurdles when running away from Sir Valentine at Wetherby.

Henderson has won four of the last eight runnings and his sole entry is Time Flies By, who has shown plenty of promise with a win and a second in a pair of Cheltenham bumpers this autumn.

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