We recommend that racing fans book the sofa this Saturday for what is sure to be a cracking afternoon of entertainment.
Getting firmly into the swing of the latest National Hunt campaign, the ITV crew split their resources between Aintree and Wincanton. Throw in three quality flat events from Doncaster, and we have eleven live contests to sink our punting teeth into.
All eleven contests have something to recommend them, but the big highlights are the Badger Beer Handicap Chase from Wincanton, the Grand Sefton Steeplechase over Aintree’s Grand National Course, and the 1m4f puzzle of the November Handicap.
No shortage of betting opportunities, and here, we present our top four picks ahead of what promises to be an enthralling afternoon of equine entertainment.
1:20 Doncaster – Livescore Bet Wentworth Stakes, Listed, 6f
We kick things off in this Listed sprint affair. As the only course and distance winner in the field, the Ralph Beckett-trained Zoum Zoum makes the shortlist. Appropriately named for a sprinter, he posted his first win of the season in a Class 2 event at this track in October. That was a fair effort off a mark of 101, but he may need to find at least a couple of pounds of improvement to land this. That said, he represents a yard in flying form and isn’t dismissed lightly.
Having twice filled the runners-up spot in Listed events over this trip, Grant Tuer’s Sophia’s Starlight makes the most appeal of those at bigger prices. In tip-top form following recent wins at Newmarket and Pontefract, she should make a bold bid from the front.
Overall, we agree with the odds compilers here and rate the Kevin Ryan-trained Room Service as the horse they all have to beat. An easy winner of a Class 2 event at Pontefract in July, he has continued his progression following a wind operation over the summer. Running a fair race on his return at Ayr, he then looked a most unlucky loser in the hugely competitive Coral Sprint Trophy. The only hold-up horse to make any impression in a race favouring the front runners, he finished like an express train to go down by a rapidly diminishing ¾l. Traffic problems halted his momentum that day, but he should have no such concerns in this smaller field and can get on top late.
Recommended Bet: Room Service to win @ 9/4 with BetVictor
1:45 Wincanton – BetMGM Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, Class 2, 2m5½f
With the Paul Nicholls yard beginning to hit its stride, Larchmount Lass seems sure to prove popular in this event for the mares. Down 2lbs in the handicap and having her first start following a wind operation, she shouldn’t be far away. Having scored over this track and trip last term, she also ticks the course and distance box. However, that looked like a particularly weak contest, and she faces stiffer opposition here. On balance, we will look elsewhere.
The one to be on at a double-figure price is Good Luck Charm, who hails from the red-hot Anthony Honeyball operation. The Dorset handler has sent out nine runners in the past fortnight – three have won, with a further five finishing second or third. In Good Luck Charm, he may have the mare to improve those stats. A course and distance winner this time last year - when seeing off the useful Vikki Vale - she backed that up with rock-solid outings in better races than this at Cheltenham, Kempton and Sandown. 2lbs below her career-high mark, she makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Recommended Bet: Good Luck Charm each way @ 14/1 with BetVictor
3:10 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes, Listed, 1m2f
8lbs clear of the field on ratings, Diamond Rain and Danielle understandably dominate the betting in our next race from Doncaster. Diamond Rain retains potential following a positive start to her career for Charlie Appleby. However, we are rarely keen to take a short price about a runner returning from injury. Danielle is more solid, having finished an excellent second against the boys last time out, but has hardly been missed by the market at around 7/4.
If there is a horse to bridge the gap to the market leaders, Ralph Beckett’s Treasure and the David O’Meara-trained Estrange are the most likely to do so. With the Beckett yard enjoying an excellent campaign, the Royal runner Treasure is respected but we prefer Estrange.
Nicely bred – by Night Of Thunder and out of the Group 2 placed Lmay - this eye-catching grey scored in good style in a soft ground event at Goodwood on debut, with two subsequent winners behind. She was tapped for toe in a quick ground event at York last time but ran on well to go down by 4l despite suffering interference. Back on a more suitable surface here, she may well have more to offer on just her third career start.
Recommended Bet: Estrange each way @ 6/1 with BetVictor
3:30 Wincanton – 63rd Badger Beer Handicap Chase, Class 1, 3m1f
Having landed this prize 11 times, anything hailing from the Paul Nicholls yard merits the utmost respect. The eight-year-old Mofasa flies the Ditcheat flag in 2024 and has duly made his way towards the head of the market. If back to the form which saw him win his first two starts of 2023, he boasts solid claims. However, he had his issues after that, with two starts following a wind operation producing an 18 ½l defeat and a pulled-up effort at Ayr. He’s in the right hands to bounce back but is too short for our liking at a general 5/1.
Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man and Lord Accord from the Neil Mulholland operation are others to note. However, we see this going to last year’s winning trainer, Anthony Honeyball.
Honeyball had a clutch of intriguing entries at the seven-day stage, headlined by 2023 hero Blackjack Magic. It, therefore, looks interesting that the defending champ is being saved for another day, with Honeyball instead relying on Lord Baddesley, Forward Plan, and Gustaivan. Of that trio, Forward Plan gets the each-way vote.
In 10 chase outings, this eight-year-old has hit the frame on nine occasions, with his career form figures over 3m+ reading 221211326121. He ended last season with a luckless third-placed effort in a hot Grade 3 handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting and is only 1lb higher here. On the downside, he flopped in the 2023 edition of this, but any horse can be forgiven one poor outing. At a double-figure price, he is an appealing proposition to at least hit the frame.
Recommended Bet: Forward Plan each way @ 10/1 with BetVictor
A 50p each way Lucky 15 returns £3,664.61 with BetVictor for four winners, or £74.76 if all four hit the frame.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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