There is some huge racing around the world today starting with a valuable national hunt card at Ascot and Ned Stark is taken to continue the good run of form of the Alan King yard in the big staying handicap chase at 3.25.

His victory in the Towton Novice Chase at Wetherby at the beginning of the year persuaded his trainer to run him in the ultra-competitive Ultima Business solutions Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Backed down to 6/1 favourite, he could never really get into that red-hot handicap, although his finishing effort up the hill was still promising in the context of what he had previously achieved in novice company.

There is sure to be no jar in the ground at the Berkshire track with all the rain around the region this week and I think this unexposed young chaser can take the scalps of What A Warrior and Houblon Des Obeaux, the last two winners of this valuable prize.      

There is a superb supporting card at Ascot and Sign of a Victory may return to winning ways in the two mile hurdle at 2.50, a race he hosed up in last year off a mark of 139.

Thereafter he was talked of as a potential Champion Hurdle player but his season fizzled out and although he is much higher in the weights here, catching him fresh could be the answer to his lost form conundrum.

The Breeders’ Cup meeting at Keeneland is a desperately hard place to find winners but I have always thought that closers do well at this track hence I am going to have some major each-way wagers this time around.

I fancy we will get a huge run out of Barbados in the Sprint at 6.50. He has a bit to find with Runhappy in the Phoenix Stakes over course and distance but unlike the winner he didn’t get the run of the race that day and may close the gap here.

Everyone is talking about Make Believe in the Mile at 7.30 and the French 2,000 Guineas winner does have a favourite’s chance in the race, but the value lies with the David O’Meara trained Mondialiste.

He has steadily found his form this season and his victory in the Woodbine Mile was a personal best and showed that he could handle a sharp American oval.

The big race of the night, the Classic, could have plenty of pace on especially Keen Ice and Smooth Roller push Triple Crown hero American Pharoah from the start and that could suit the closer Tonalist (e/w) at 9.35.

Finally at Wolverhampton have a second look at Swift Blade in the opener at 4.35 and the very well treated For Shia and Lula off top weight in the 6.15.