*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey have revealed their top picks ahead of action at Ascot and Haydock this weekend.

Speaking on the latest episode of Paddy Power’s twice-weekly From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, Ruby is backing Thyme Hill in the Porsche Long Walk Hurdle while Frank reckons his Tommy Whittle selection could be a dark horse for the Welsh National.

Ruby Walsh

2.25pm, Ascot (Saturday) – Thyme Hill

My best bet of the weekend is THYME HILL. I’m still chuckling at the name of the race – it’s the Porsche Long Walk Hurdle – so they’ve picked one of the fastest cars to sponsor one of the slowest races and I think that’s quite ironic.

Thyme Hill is my best bet of the week. You can back Roksana to beat the rest each-way, but I don’t think she’ll beat Thyme Hill or Paisley Park.

And I think Thyme Hill will uphold his form against Paisley Park. There is a 3lb swing, but its not enough of a swing for me and I think both horses are likely to improve as much as each other from Newbury. There will be a bit of pace here compared to that Newbury race, with Portrush Ted making a good enough gallop while The Worlds End likes to be handy as well. This will be a truer test than the Newbury race was but I’m a Thyme Hill fan and I’m definitely in the Thyme Hill camp.

Frank Hickey

2.40pm, Haydock (Saturday) – Sojourn

SOJOURN for Anthony Honeyball was extremely impressive when winning over 3m2f at Carlisle on his reappearance. He won by 15 lengths from Amateur with another 24 lengths back to the third. Form has worked out really well as the third won next time, as did the sixth. Late Romantic was actually pulled up in the race but he won next time also.

Sojourn got 11lbs for that but he only had two starts last season. He won at Market Rasen off 117 and was second behind Dominateur on his next start at Chepstow. Dominateur won next time out at Chepstow again and he would be my dark horse for the Welsh National. Sojourn is only seven and it is relatively testing ground. There is an awful lot to like about him.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey’s best bets for this weekend

Ruby Walsh
2.25pm, Ascot (Saturday) – Thyme Hill

Frank Hickey
2.40pm, Haydock (Saturday) – Sojourn

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