Un De Sceaux can turn around Sandown form with Defi Du Seuil and notch a fourth win in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Willie Mullins’ charge is certainly in the veteran stage of his career at the age of 12 - but his neck defeat at the hands of his much younger rival in the Tingle Creek shows his ability and appetite remain undiminished.

Reappearing for the first time since dishing out a beating to Min at the Punchestown Festival, Un De Sceaux will surely have come on a bit for his first spin in 221 days. His jumping was not foot-perfect that day, but the way he put his head down and battled against the race-fit Defi Du Seuil gives him every chance.

While Defi Du Seuil perhaps idled a bit on that occasion, Un De Sceaux thrives both at Ascot and on testing ground - which seems a given this weekend.

On what can be a good afternoon in Berkshire for the Irish raiding party, Magic Of Light can take home the bet365 Mares’ Hurdle. She won this race for Jessica Harrington last year before going on to post an excellent second to Tiger Roll in the Grand National and after a Newbury chase win last time out, she clearly remains in top form.

Thomas Darby switches disciplines in the Matchbook Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle after failing to really find his stride in two starts over fences. Second in the Supreme last year, Olly Murphy’s charge has let himself down with his jumping in chase company, but can put himself back in the mix over hurdles here.

Goshen has won his two outings over obstacles by a total of 57 lengths and is the obvious choice in the Ascot IJF Ambassador Programme Juvenile Hurdle. He has made all on each occasion and been eased down well before the line, so the sky really is the limit right now for Gary Moore’s charge.

Midnight Tune can bring up the hat-trick in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock.

Anthony Honeyball has opted to take in this event rather than the mares’ hurdle at Ascot and it is easy to see why given the manner of her win at Exeter before Christmas.

Having previously struck over three miles on heavy ground at Uttoxeter in November, Midnight Tune showed her versatility in switching back to two miles to win a trappy three-runner heat in the West Country. A 3lb rise does not look too harsh and while she is at the bottom of the handicap, she seems on the upgrade and will certainly handle heavy conditions.

It will be a shock if Pentland Hills is beaten again in The New One Unibet Hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s runner won Grade One juvenile events at both Cheltenham and Aintree last spring, but looked in need of the run when fifth on his reappearance in the International Hurdle.

He raced far too keenly for his own good and was found out up the hill, but the run should have done him the world of good.