Oscar Hoof ready to get back into the swing of things

3.00 Ascot
Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap Hurdle | 4yo+ | 2m3f | ITV4/RUK

Oscar Hoof, owned by a clutch of golfers including Lee Westwood, makes his return to action after being absent for nearly three years.

The nine-year-old was threatening to be a headline act before falling in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting in 2014.

Wolfcatcher, a big-money buy out of Charlie Appleby's Godolphin team after racing over hurdles for John Ferguson, has been off the track a mere 249 days, while Ordo Ab Chao is another classy performer returning from 680 days off. He still holds an entry in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at the festival.

Looking towards the bottom of the weights has paid off
Seven of the last ten winners have carried 10st 12lb or less.

A race for the younger generations
Six-year-olds have the best record in the last ten years with four winners, while two have fallen to a year younger. The oldest winner has been aged just eight.

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Connetable and Cyrname
Connetable has got top weight and is off a very high mark for what he's achieved. Cyrname has had only one run for us at Ascot and he was very free, so he needs to settle. He'll be chasing next season.

Alan King, trainer of Ordo Ab Chao and My Khaleesi
Ordo Ab Chao was very ill with pneumonia last season and has taken a long time to recover, but he’s ready to start back. He’s sure to want the run but is pleasing me in his work. My Khaleesi's maiden hurdle win at Fontwell looks solid and the more the ground dries out the better.

Richard Ryan, assistant to Ian Williams, trainer of Wolfcatcher
He's taken a little time to acclimatise. He's as fit as we can get him for this first run for us.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Oscar Hoof and Divine Spear
Oscar Hoof threatened to be a decent horse but hasn't run for a very long time. He's in good form but it will be tough for him in this ground and he'll come on a lot for the race. Divine Spear looks as if he wants the step up in trip.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Templeross
He ran a superb race in the Lanzarote and we're very hopeful.

Gary Moore, trainer of Loup De Louve and Krugermac
Loup De Louve was bought privately from France and is a nice horse we like but how well handicapped he is I don't know. I hope it stays dry for Krugermac and he will appreciate the step up in trip.

Scoop6 punters to play the long game

Scoop6 players face a long wait to discover their fate on Saturday as the last three races arrive once ITV4's coverage has gone off air.

Only the 3.00 at Ascot and 3.15 at Haydock will be shown during the main afternoon coverage as punters play for combined pools estimated to reach £250,00 following consecutive rollovers.

There is £83,962 in the win fund and the bonus pot stands at £41,185, while an extra bonus of £100,000 is available for a single winner, providing the bet is placed via the Betfred and totesport channels or at the racecourse with totepool.

It has been confirmed the Scoop6 will take place every day of the Cheltenham Festival with any rollovers from Saturday, March 11 carried forward to six selected races on Tuesday, March 14.

SCOOP6 RACES

Leg 1 2.40 Haydock
Leg 2 3.00 Ascot
Leg 3 3.15 Haydock
Leg 4 4.10 Ascot
Leg 5 4.20 Haydock
Leg 6 4.30 Wincanton