Does He Know now clear Ultima favourite and cut for National Hunt after easy win

Saturday: Ascot

Kim Bailey traded Ascot for sunnier climes, but he will no doubt have tuned in to watch Does He Know enhance his festival credentials when bouncing back to land the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase.

While his trainer was in Sri Lanka watching his son play cricket, the seven-year-old was powering through the mud to win by 14 lengths, having gallantly chased home Threeunderthrufive on his last start at Cheltenham in November.

He was cut to 8-1 (from 16-1) with Paddy Power for the National Hunt Chase, but he will also have the option of the Ultima Handicap Chase, for which he was shortened to 5-1 (from 8-1) after landing this Grade 2.

"We were panicking about the ground, but he does have form on soft from a long time ago," said assistant trainer Matthew Nicholls, who joked he did not get an invite to south Asia. "On ratings he had a favourite's chance and it was a really good staying performance.

"He can be a bit exuberant over his jumps and a bit of a handful before the race, but he keeps on improving and tries under pressure."

The Reynoldstown has a good record of throwing up top chasers, having been won by the likes of Rocky Creek (2013) and Black Corton (2018) in recent years.

Double for Thomas and Deutsch

Sam Thomas believes Skytastic "could be anything" after the six-year-old extended his unbeaten record in the 2m3½f novice hurdle under Charlie Deutsch.

It did not make for a comfortable watch for the trainer as Skytastic narrowly denied Scarface by a neck after battling up the straight, and Thomas said: "It's never nice seeing another horse loom up like that.

"He has Cheltenham entries, but in my eyes he's a big galloper and might be more suited by Aintree. We can perhaps look forward to Cheltenham next year when we try him over fences.

"It's great he had to dig deep for the first time and he could be anything. He's very intelligent and would have learnt a lot. It's exciting to have these sorts of horses to come to the big days with."

Thomas has another one for the big days in Good Risk At All, who secured a double for the trainer and Deutsch in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle.

Good Risk At All (Charlie Deutsch) wins the 2m3½f handicap hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

He was cut to 10-1 (from 25-1) for next month's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle after winning by nine lengths, but could instead be aimed at the Coral Cup, depending on how the handicapper assesses his win.

"He clearly handles the conditions," said Thomas. "He's ridiculously well handicapped today so we'll see what the handicapper does. That would hopefully get us in the Coral Cup if we opt to go that route.

"Paul [Nicholls] often used to say to me that when you're on the best horse in the race, keep them out of trouble and let them see what they're doing, and that's what Charlie did. He should have been winning here, otherwise I wouldn't have done my job properly."

Aintree dreaming

Hugh Nugent is dreaming of partnering Fortescue in the Randox Grand National in April after they won the Listed Swinley Chase.

The eight-year-old is owned by the jockey's grandfather Tim Nixon and is not guaranteed to get a run at Aintree off a mark of 143, but he was cut to 25-1 (from 66-1) by Betfair for the world's greatest steeplechase.

After beating fellow National hopeful Fiddlerontheroof, Nugent said: "He wouldn't have got in the National last year off his rating, but two years before then he would have. His odds must have shortened and this is great for my grandad, who also bred him.

"It would be pretty cool to ride for him in the Grand National, but I'm just happy with this, to be honest. I never thought the ground would be an issue and it probably helped him. You always have to niggle him along in his races, but he always finds and his jumping is superb."

Results, replays and analysis

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