Count on Campioni

Take a chance with Count Campioni to upset some better-fancied rivals in today's PricewaterhouseCoopers Ascot Hurdle.

Mark Pitman's five-year-old faces a stiff test in the Ascot feature with the likes of last year's winner Juyush, Behrajan and Wahiba Sands in opposition.

But judged on his impressive reappearance at Newbury earlier this month, Count Campioni is progressing along the right lines.

He looked in good shape for his return and was held up in the early stages of a two-mile intermediate hurdle before cruising through to lead two out. Showing a good turn of foot he quickened in style to slam the highly-regarded Ballysicyos by five lengths.

Open to further improvement Count Campioni will relish the extra half mile today and is napped to take this Grade Two contest.

Get Real, a massive individual who specialises in going righthanded, looks too good to oppose in the two-mile LG Electronics Handicap Chase.

Nicky Henderson's eight-yearold made a successful return to action over course and distance at the end of last month.

Jumping well he made all the running to come home unchallenged by eight lengths from Dines, with one of today's rivals, Celibate, a length and a half back in third.

Celibate is 11lb better off now but that does not appear enough to reverse placings with Get Real, who still appears on the upgrade.

The concluding Bison Group Hurdle is a trappy heat despite attracting just five runners and the solution looks to lie with Zaralaska.

A very smart middle-distance handicapper on the Flat for Luca Cumani the chestnut showed fair form for David Nicholson over hurdles.

His best run last term came when a two-length second of five to Effectual at Doncaster, finding little after appearing to be going best three out.

Zaralaska has since joined Sue Smith and it is worth taking a chance with the gelding to score for his new yard.

Jeff King's useful chaser Country Beau can show the benefit of an outing over hurdles at Cheltenham last month by taking the Bonusprint Handicap Chase at Exeter.

He was prone to jumping errors in his first season over fences but his reappearance over timber will have done his confidence a lot of good.

The best is yet to come from Country Beau and he is taken to record his first win of the season.