Today’s FREE Horse racing tips: The Betting Spy’s top picks for Saturday's racing at Ascot and Haydock

HOUSE PARTY Your in-depth preview to Saturday's Clarence House Chase at Ascot

I spy an eyecatcher…

Newbury's Wednesday fixture was modest by the track's standards but VOLPONE JELOIS ran an eye-catching race in the 2m handicap hurdle.

On his second run for Chris Gordon and ridden by his new enthusiastic owner/amateur jockey David Maxwell he was given a lot to do and may have challenged on the softer ground so his run in finishing second to a well-backed favourite can be marked up.

He will go up a few pounds but was rated higher when with Paul Nicholls and can find a race. He stays further but needs ground no softer than good. His new owner is pretty decent as unpaid pilots go so look out for Volpone in an amateur-riders handicap.

At Kempton later that day Sir Mark Prescott's BATTLE OF PARADISE was backed at fancy prices all day to make a winning debut in the mile maiden.

He was returned at 11-2 and ran a cracker, despite having the worst of the draw in box 14, to finish second to the more experienced – and also well supported – Target Zone.

The first two pulled clear and the runner-up, who holds a Derby entry and is related to Leger winner Millenary and Derby third Let The Lion Roar, looks to have a bright future. Battle Of Paradise is one to go to war with in the coming turf Flat season.

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