Monet's heads Ascot seven

Monet’s Garden will face just six rivals as he bids to get his season back on track in Saturday’s Commercial First Ascot Chase.

Nicky Richards’ charge was a hugely disappointing sixth in the King George VI Chase on his last outing after opening his campaign with a convincing win at Carlisle.

The nine-year-old holds a number of entries at the Cheltenham Festival - including the totesport Gold Cup and Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase – and connections are keen to see how he fares before committing to a target.

Irish raiders Fota Island and Central House make the trip to Berkshire - despite holding alternative engagements in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on the same day.

The former, trained by Mouse Morris, finished second in last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase but has failed to sparkle in two starts this term.

Dessie Hughes’ Central House has also yet to win this season and finished well in arrears of Cheltenham contender Nickname on his last three starts.

The Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Cerium and Thisthatandtother take their chances – with the duo having run ninth and fifth respectively at Cheltenham last time.

Vodka Bleu represents David Pipe’s yard, while the Noel Chance-trained River City completes the line-up.