Timeform UK SmartPlays: Saturday February 15

This year's Reynoldstown Novices' Chase (14:05) hasn't attracted the very best of the British challengers for the RSA, yet it's still an up-to-scratch renewal. That will be even more the case if Many Clouds develops as we think he is capable. He was nearly put up as a live outsider for the RSA in Tony McFadden's preview of that race and has the form of one that can make a serious impact at the Festival. Beaten only by Black Thunder so far over fences, last time Many Clouds accounted for Donald McCain's Indian Castle who went on to win a handicap on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham. Many Clouds beat Indian Castle over two and a half miles, though his pedigree strongly suggests that it's over three miles he'll thrive. He'll admittedly need to settle better than when Black Thunder took his measure, but if he does Many Clouds holds truly outstanding claims in this race.

The following listed handicap chase contains a fair number of interesting sorts, though several could have bigger targets lined up for the spring. That's probably not the case with Highland Lodge, whose record fresh wouldn't command any form of prep run. He'd looked better than ever this season prior to him failing to complete in the Welsh National. Even that wasn't so bad as it looked, given he raced enthusiastically for so long up with the pace before his stamina gave out all of a sudden. He's back to three miles here, which is within his grasp pretty much no matter how testing the conditions are. His mark's not bad either: 139 is 4 lb lower than the mark from which Highland Lodge finished fourth in the Hennessy and only 3 lb higher than when he was just touched off by a rapidly-improving Standing Ovation in October. He looks to have plenty in his favour for another big run here.

Finally we look to the day's feature, the Betfair Ascot Chase (15:50). Captain Chris is a clear and worthy favourite. Prices around 2.01/1 are absolutely fair, just not outstanding value. What could be are place odds about the returning Medermit. He proved consistent and high-class in 2011/2, finishing second in this race as well as making the frame in several other big contests around the trip. He's not been seen since, which is the obvious concern, though with the King yard emerging strongly from their recent dull spell hopes are lifted for Medermit, while you feel that if connections were looking for an easy return they wouldn't have picked this contest. With there being limited depth and eight runners, Medermit at anywhere near his best would have very strong claims of making the first three.

Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Ascot

Back Many Clouds in the 14:05
Back Highland Lodge in the 14:40
Back Medermit win and place in the 15:50