1.35pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 18/11/2016

A small field but with all of the top yard’s represented this has all the makings of a fascinating contest. Read on for our expert analysis and runner by runner guide plus tip.

IN SUMMARY: On looks alone Hell’s Kitchen will win races this year as he showed when showing the benefit of experience to win on only his second start over hurdles earlier in the year. He will go well if taking to fences but he will have to be at the top of his game to trouble DIFFERENT GRAVEY who looked top-class over hurdles last term and if translating that to fences will be all the rage to make a winning debut.

1 Brother Tedd – Ran well in good company in Handicap Hurdles last season without winning with his last win coming just over a year ago in a 5 runner event at Kempton where he beat none other than Silviniaco Conti by 4 lengths. Finished a promising 6 lengths 2^nd behind one of Dan Skelton’s leading lights on his re-appearance at Newton Abbott in October but last at Cheltenham last time out and will find it tough again today.

2 Different Gravey – Has the best hurdling form on offer and looked like he could go all the way to the top when routing a strong field by 16 lengths in an Ascot Hurdle back in February having been off for the best part of a year prior to that. 2 back to wins before that in 2015 and no disgrace finishing 5^th behind Thistlecrack in the stayer’s event at Aintree when last seen in April. Promises to be just as good over fences and winning here would be welcome news for the stable after a tough week.

3 Hell’s Kitchen – Physically imposing gelding who readily won a Novice’s Hurdle at Newbury on his second start for yard back in March. Turned-over at odds-on next time out at Newbury in March and has been off the track since then. Should improve for this outing but a chance on best form.

4 Qualando – Won the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2015 but struggled to show the same form last season. Finished 3^rd in the 4 runner event in which Brother Tedd came last at Cheltenham recently on first run of the season. Will have come on for that but may just struggle for speed against the top two.