With the ground soft enough at Ascot to cause a course inspection, punters are sure to be seeking a mudlover at the bottom of the handicap to land today's £40,000-added Victor Chandler Handicap Chase.

An open contest has seen plenty of ante-post activity but it is still difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff and a narrow vote goes to Arthur Moore's raider Jeffell (Conor O'Dwyer).

The defection of Ask Tom may have robbed the race of its most classy performer but by allowing a weights rise it has brought all the runners into the handicap.

Jeffell's temperament is somewhat quirky, the eight-year-old having refused to race on the Flat last year and run in a most mulish fashion behind Simply Dashing in the First National Bank Gold Cup at Ascot in November.

But the grey won four of six completed starts last term and although the form of his last run when 11 lengths second to Dorans Pride is slightly questionable, it still makes Jeffell look potentially well-treated here.

Jeffell has needed his first run or two of the season to blow off the cobwebs in previous years. With an improved showing expected in his favoured conditions, ante-post support at attractive prices has been forthcoming in the past few days.

Elsewhere on an exciting Ascot card, Bellator looks a more solid choice to score in the closing Teal and Green Handicap Hurdle.

Suited by soft ground, the fiveyear-old earned plenty of admirers last year when winning two novice events in grand style.

He again caught the eye when mid-division and not knocked around unduly in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown last month.

There has been plenty of antepost interest in the gelding for the Tote Gold Trophy next month and he can score here and pick up only a 4lb penalty for Newbury with success in what is a really competitive event.

Slightly disappointing on the Flat where he managed five runner-up slots without a win, a switch of codes saw Barnburgh Boy break his duck and his style of success there suggested that there is more to come.

The vibes in the betting ring before his Wetherby victory suggested that things had been going well at home and with room for improvement in his jumping, the four-year-old can be fancied to progress enough to take the MBNA Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Newcastle.