Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams likes a novice chaser without the favourite at Ascot

Can bounce back with a return to prominent tactics in small field

Ascot 14:55: Up The Straight 1pt win w/o the favourite 6/1

Pic d'Orhy heads the market for this Grade 2 novice chase and much of this race comes down to how well he jumps. Rather than take him on, I think the most appealing option is the without the favourite market.

Faivoir is the odds-on favourite in that market and he won over C&D last time but that race was a case of three horses doing their best to not win. Cascova quickly took himself out of contention by refusing to race and Faivoir and Torn And Frayed tried to outdo each other for who could give away the most ground by jumping out to the left. Faivoir's jumping had been a bit questionable prior to that and I doubt we will see the best of him on a right-handed track.

Gladiateur Allen did well to win on chasing debut at Exeter after stumbling on landing at 2 out. The concern with him today is that he had the benefit of a strong early pace at Exeter which helped him to settle and I'm not sure such a scenario will be forthcoming here.

Fifty Ball made a promising chasing debut at Sandown but he disappointed at Newbury last time and, as with Gladiateur Allen, I think we'll only see the best of him in a strongly run race.

And that leaves Up The Straight, who I think is being underestimated by the market. He was beaten 20 lengths in the Paddy Power last time but he was held up that day which wasn't the place to be in that race and I think generally doesn't suit him.

Prior to that, he made a winning seasonal debut at Plumpton in comfortable fashion and a repeat of that or the best of his form over fences last season, which included chasing home Farinet at Sandown, would give him a good chance of beating his three rivals in this market, particularly if they revert to previously used tactics.

He's run well over fences when ridden handily and James Davies could find himself in a good position tracking Pic d'Orhy with his other three rivals held up behind him.

It may be Up The Straight's rivals have more class than him and they will turn up at their best today and be too good for him but given the right-handed track and likely lack of a very strong pace I'm doubtful that will happen. Any 11/2 or bigger appeals in the without the favourite market.