The horse racing broadcaster picks out five fancies, three jockeys to watch and two stable tracker horses ahead of a big weekend around the racecourses.
The close of the turf flat season, races over the National fences and the longest-standing sponsored handicap in the National Hunt calendar all form part of a bumper 11-race bonanza on ITV on Saturday.
The November Handicap at Doncaster sees two horses I have long fancied for the race both line up. The first is Chillingham who is dealt with below in the Stable Tracker section, and the second is MASTER BUILDER
8/1
(15:45 Doncaster). He has had an excellent season, and the big field will play more to his strengths than the steadily run York handicap he contested last time. Partnered again by William Buick, who rode him confidently when scoring at Haydock, he can go close to a repeat here with Chillingham his main threat.
Lack of rain has restricted the field sizes over jumps this campaign, but it hasn’t stopped Nigel Twiston-Davies from having an excellent autumn and it will be a surprise if TEDLEY
6/4
(13:09 Wincanton) does not land the hat-trick under Jamie Brace in the conditional jockeys’ race. Brace partnered him to victory at Wetherby and he still looks to have more to offer having improved for the switch to chasing.
The feature race at Wincanton is the 63rd running of the Badger Beer Handicap Chase, where Joe Tizzard can continue his good start to the season with victory for THE CHANGING MAN
3/1
(15:30 Wincanton), who may be best caught fresh. First up last season he split Stay Away Fay and Grey Dawning at Exeter on his chasing debut, but while they had successful seasons, he ended the campaign without a win. A wind op and decent ground can help him gain his first success over the larger obstacles.
At Aintree, there looks likely to be a furious pace in the 2m handicap chase, which can set it up for recent course winner IMPERIAL SAINT
15/8
(14:05 Aintree), who benefited from a rival running out at the last when scoring on his chasing debut. Racing in the Richard Johnson family colours, he could be a cut above these and as long as his chasing inexperience doesn’t count against him early on when the pace is fierce, he can run them down on the long run to the final fence.
The race over the larger fences is the 2m 5f Grand Sefton, where LATENIGHTPASS
7/1
(14:40 Aintree) can win again over the big fences, having landed the Foxhunters in 2022 under Gina Andrews. He has been off since running a big race in the National itself when clearly failing to see out the trip, and his excellent record over these fences is a big asset.
JOCKEYS FOR COURSES
These are the riders in action at tracks where they historically have a good career record in terms of actual winners ridden compared to market expectations.
DONCASTER: William Buick (105/494, A/E 1.19). Two rides including Diamond Rain (15:10), off the track since being well beaten in the Ribblesdale where she was sent off as the second favourite, having won both her first two races with William in the saddle.
KELSO: Ryan Mania (71/430, A/E 1.34). Five rides, the first of which is dual course bumper winner Dedicated Hero (11:10) who has his hurdling debut and an early start!
WINCANTON: Rex Dingle (19/109 A/E 1.69). Three rides, one of which is Good Look Charm (13:45) who he partnered to victory in the race last season. She lines up off an 8lb higher mark, but this is Rex’s first time back aboard since that win.
STABLE TRACKER
There have been three runners this week:
Albus Anne (third, 5/4). Another slow start didn’t help her cause, but she didn’t seem in quite the same form as when added after her win in early October. She has one run left.
Letmebetheboss (0, 7/2). Could have done with ground conditions being even deeper, but also went plenty hard enough out in front. He also has one run left and could make a hurdler.
Jane Temple (first, 6/5). Fully confirmed the promise of her barnstorming debut finish, holding on well having clearly learnt a lot from that run. As she has now won, she is released.
There are two runners in the next two days. The first on Friday, CLOUD COVER (18:30 Dundalk, who got no run last time at Southwell having been dropped in from a wide gate. She lines up in Listed company here. The second is CHILLINGHAM (15:45 Doncaster) on Saturday in the November Handicap. This is the specific race he was added to the stable for after going too hard in the Ebor two starts ago.
Additions this week are:
Eye Of The Water who can win at Wolverhampton on the All-Weather after setting a strong pace at Bath last Thursday. He hasn’t won for a while but has dropped to a good mark.
I’m Ravenous who made a winning chasing debut at Warwick on Tuesday, jumping soundly and looking well ahead of his opening mark over fences. Expect a short-term follow-up before the better horses emerge.
Released: Jane Temple
Added: Eye of The Water, I’m Ravenous
A full list of the current tracker horses can be found here.
COLUMN PERFORMANCE 2024
Selections: 56/55.22, A/E 1.01
Jockeys For Courses: 55/56.97, A/E 0.97
Stable Tracker: 29/30.94, A/E 0.92
Total: 139/142.73, A/E 0.97
Visit Betway’s horse racing odds page.