Four runners who are sure to be suited by the heavy ground at Ascot on Saturday

The going at Ascot has eased to heavy (from soft, heavy in places) for Long Walk Hurdle day following almost 4mm of rain since racing on Friday. Here are four horses who will be suited by the testing conditions . . .

Saint Sonnet (1.50)

This Paul Nicholls-trained five-year-old has fallen and pulled up in two starts this season but can return to form with testing conditions to suit.

He landed a juvenile hurdle on heavy ground at Auteuil in November 2018, finished third in similar conditions in a Listed event at the same track the following year and struck on his stable debut for Nicholls on heavy ground at Catterick in February.

Saint Sonnet was badly hampered by a faller early on in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and remains open to improvement.

Saturday tips from our experts:

Pricewise: Tom Segal with an Ascot tip 'more than capable of winning off his revised mark' (Members' Club subscribers)

Paul Kealy with six value Saturday bets following two winners last weekend (Members' Club subscribers)

Big-race Trends: Long Distance Hurdle the best pointer to success in Long Walk (Members' Club subscribers)

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Saturday afternoon

Paul Kealy's must-have banker at Haydock on Saturday

Saturday's free racing tips: expert selections from our top team

Main Fact (2.25)

Heavy ground is a positive for the chances of the remarkable Main Fact, who bids for a tenth consecutive victory on his first crack at top-level company in the Porsche Long Walk Hurdle.

Main Fact has proved a revelation since joining David Pipe for £6,000 and five of his nine wins have came on heavy ground.

This is by far his biggest ask but he may well handle conditions better than most and provide one of the stories of the jumps season.

Beware The Bear (3.00)

This Nicky Henderson-trained ten-year-old returned with a fair fifth in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on good ground and a stiffer test of stamina will be in his favour.

Beware The Bear has ran three times on heavy ground, winning a maiden hurdle at Bangor in 2016, pulling up in the Welsh National two years later then finishing fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase that season.

His dour Rehearsal Chase victory at Newcastle in 2017 sticks in the memory – a race described as a "thorough stamina test" by Racing Post analyst Ron Wood – and he has each-way claims at a double-figure price.

Master Debonair (3.35)

Master Debonair's sole run on heavy ground came at this meeting last year when he recorded a standout career-best Racing Post Rating in defeating Ribble Valley by eight lengths in the Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle.

Master Debonair: won the Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle on heavy ground at this meeting last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Time Flies By, 9-2 favourite for the Betfair Exchange Trophy, was back in third that day and good ground was not to Master Debonair's liking on his return in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Master Debonair, trained by Colin Tizzard, needs to bounce right back to be competitive but is an intriguing outsider with conditional Harry Kimber claiming 7lb.

All of Saturday's previews and analysis:

'It's testing but I've known it a lot worse' – Ascot going eases to heavy

Heavyweights battle for staying supremacy in star-studded Long Walk Hurdle (Members' Club subscribers)

Why Long Walk is a far more complex puzzle than Newbury clash would make it seem (Members' Club subscribers)

'He's got an outstanding chance' – the Saturday Jury on the big-race action (Members' Club subscribers)

'It's not just a rematch' – Johnson and Lavelle wary of Long Walk Hurdle dangers

Caribean Boy and Itchy Feet go head-to-head in graduation chase cracker

Stats suggest quick return for well-regarded Saint Sonnet could be profitable

Venetia Williams' stable staff are off to the races – but as owners

'A real slog' will suit Hill Sixteen in competitive Tommy Whittle Chase

'He's favourite and he deserves to be' – Bridgwater has faith in The Conditional

'Backers of hype horse Buzz are advised to watch his in-running price'

One horse, one jockey, one trainer and one race to watch on Saturday

Join Members' Club Ultimate and read tipping from the likes of Pricewise and Paul Kealy, all the big interviews and features, daily comment and news analysis - plus our Ultimate Daily newsletter. Click here to sign up.