Saturday 23rd November 2024
12.08 Haydock: Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Newton Novices’ Hurdle: Kicking things off for us on an action-packed Saturday is the 12.08 at Haydock which is a Grade 2 novice hurdle that’s ridden over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I like Lily Du Berlais here for Stuart Crawford and Brian Hayes. She was placed at Grade 2 level in her bumper days and had some solid form behind the likes of Irish Point and Corbetts Cross in graded novice hurdles. Most recently, she’s won back-to-back mares handicaps and looks ready for this step up. This doesn’t look overly deep for the level and she can go well. Lily Du Berlais – 3/1 (Win)
12.55 Ascot: Copybet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle: My second selection of the day coming within the 12.55 at Ascot which is a Class 3 mares handicap hurdle over two miles and seven and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Midnightreflection here for Ben Case who’s the mount of Charlie Case who’s taking off seven pounds. She’s not shown much as of late; however, she won this race last year off an eight-pound higher mark and has a further seven pounds coming off her back with the rider’s claim. If she retains any of her previous ability she’s got every chance of getting involved off today’s mark. Midnightreflection – 9/1 (Each-Way)
1.15 Haydock: Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle: It’s back over to Haydock for the 1.15 which is a Class 2 handicap hurdle over two miles and three furlongs. I’m chancing Punta Del Este here for the team of Dan and Harry Skelton. He’s a course and distance winner and posted a very encouraging effort when third of nine and three-quarters of a length behind the winner on seasonal reappearance at Carlisle earlier this month. That run came on good to soft ground which suggests he’s versatile ground-wise, and considering he’s only a five-year-old there could be more to come. Punta Del Este – 9/1 (Each-Way)
1.50 Haydock: Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase: It’s back over the larger obstacles in the 1.50 at Haydock with a Class 2 graduation chase over two miles and five and a half furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Iroko here for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero who’s the mount of Jonjo O’Neil Jr. He’s a Cheltenham Festival winner having won the Martin Pipe back in 2023 and has since gone to place in two Grade 1s, both coming at Aintree with one over hurdles and most recently when second behind Inothewayurthinkin in the Grade 1 novice chase back in April. I think he has the potential to be considerably better than these and I expect a big showing. Iroko – 15/8 (Win) (NAP)
2.30 Haydock: Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle: My fifth selection of the day comes within the 2.30 at Haydock which is a Premier Handicap in the form of the Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle over three miles and half of a furlong. I’ve got another strong fancy here in Doyen Quest who’s another Dan & Harry Skelton. He’s turned out quickly here having won a competitive handicap at Cheltenham last week when getting better of the smart Gowel Road by five lengths in the process. It’s likely that there’s a lot more to come and it would be no surprise to see him go in again here. Doyen Quest – 3/1 (Win) (NB)
2.45 Ascot: Howden Ascot Hurdle: It’s up in grade and back over to Ascot now for the 2.45 which is the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle that’s contested over two miles and three and a half furlongs. I’ve gone with Blueking d’Oroux here for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He’s already won twice around here with one of those victories coming within the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle last November. He didn’t disgrace himself when fifth in the Grade 1 Long Walk back in December as well when finishing behind the likes of Impaire Et Passe and Langer Dan in his most recent outing in the Select Hurdle at Sandown in April. This isn’t as strong as some of those races and I expect a big showing at a track he clearly enjoys. Blueking d’Oroux – 10/3 (Win)
3.05 Haydock: Betfair Chase: The feature race of the afternoon comes up at 3.05 and this is the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock over three miles and one and a half furlongs. I’ve decided to chance Bravemansgame here for the combination of Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies. It’s starting to become a long time in between drinks for him, however, he was second in the race last year albeit when a short-priced favourite. I do think there was promise in his run last time out when finishing second once again in the Charlie Hall Chase, he seemed to travel well that day before not finding much in the closing stages. The yards runners have been needing the run and if he comes on for that outing here he could look like a big price. Bravemansgame – 10/1 (Each-Way)
3.20 Ascot: Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase: My final selection of the day comes within the 3.20 at Ascot which is a Class 2 handicap chase that’s ridden over two miles and a furlong. I’m with Sans Bruit here who’s another for Paul Nicholls and this time the mount of Harry Cobden. He won a Grade 3 handicap chase at Aintree back in April and returned to the track in the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter earlier this month when finishing third of five and eight and three-quarters of a length behind JPR One. That was a decent enough run, however, I suspect he’ll be a lot sharper for this particular assignment and this represents an ease in grade for him. Sans Bruit – 9/2 (Win)
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