Dave Massey is back with Ascot Racing Tips ahead of the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase. The odds-on favourite looks a penalty kick to give trainer Willie Mullins yet further success, so instead Chutney Dave goes value hunting in some of the handicaps – read his exclusive preview below.

Ascot Racing Tips: Clarence House Chase 2026

The Jukebox Kid ran out an easy winner at Carlisle on his return and was made favourite to score at Cheltenham off the back of it last time, but appeared not to get up the hill, and might be happier at middle distances, for all this flatter track might help. 

Ascot Racing Tips: In D’Or (1:00)

In D’Or (1.00) looks the bet. He’s got a couple of lengths to find with Welcome to Cartries on their Sandown running last time but the winner had had the benefit of an outing this season, whereas In D’Or was making his seasonal reappearance, and a 3lb swing in the weights in his favour will help too. He’s probably got more to offer as a staying chaser this season, and it’s worth remembering he won this last year too, so this was probably one of his targets this time around. 

Ascot Racing Tips: Etalon (2:20)

Two of Etalon’s (2.20) better efforts in recent runs have now come over trips of 2m3f or slightly further and for all he’s been kept to shorter trips for much of his career, he is now starting to look like middle distances are more his thing. 

The application of some cheekpieces last time out seemed to buck his ideas up too, and given a much more positive ride from the front, he kept on in grand style to see off Scarface, who held every chance turning for home but could never get to grips with the winner and he was coming away again at the line, looking like a bit further wouldn’t be a problem. A 5lb rise for that win looks fair, and I can see him winning again under a similarly positive ride from the front. 

Ascot Racing Tips: Came From Nowhere (2:53)

I’ve little doubt the good-looking Marche D’Aligre has the talent to win this, but equally I’m starting to think he has a bit of soft underbelly about him. I couldn’t put you off if he’s a double-figure price as he’ll travel well into the race – it’s just what he’ll find when push comes to shove. 

Came From Nowhere (2.53) missed the Lanzarote last week, the ground just too quick for him, but that won’t be a problem here with rain due both Thursday and a bit more Friday. He looks to be improving very quickly now, a solid second to Non Stop at Wincanton followed up by him barely breaking sweat to score at Hereford, the extended trip proving just the ticket. He’s up another seven pounds but there’s surely more to come from him, and this, in all honesty, doesn’t look like the toughest of Saturday races to win. 

Racing Tips: Pinot Rouge (Haydock, 2:35) 

There’s no shortage of pace on here, with four or five of these likely to go forward, but it doesn’t automatically mean that we’re looking for something that’s going to be held up to come from off the pace and nick this late. Haydock tends to suit those ridden prominently, and a chance is taken at a likely big price on Susan Corbett’s Pinot Rouge (2.35) to upset the applecart. 

Pinot Rouge has, again, been demonstrating that fences are simply not her thing lately; a moderate effort at Hexham was followed by an even worse one at Newcastle where she simply never went a yard, made mid-race mistakes and was pulled up. A return to hurdles should suit, and so should the ground, with Haydock likely to miss the bulk of the rain Thursday and Friday, resulting in nothing worse than good to soft. A leap of faith is required, but we’ll get a price about her, and I’d not be shocked if she hit the frame, or better. 

 By Dave Massey

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