Horse racing ideas: Aintree, Wincanton, Sandown, Sat 9 and Sun 10 Nov
Saturday serves up two engrossing jumps playing cards at Aintree and Wincanton, whereas Sunday sees the return of Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Santini at Sandown.
The British 2019 Flat season ended like a humid squib with the news that right now’s final scheduled fixture of the campaign at Doncaster, set to function the November Handicap, has been abandoned because of waterlogging.
So, the focus turns well and really to some glorious afternoon jumps motion and a night all climate card. Meanwhile, on Sunday, there are three extra fantastic jumps cards to sit up for. Winter is nearly here.
Fresh and fancied Cepage can land Aintree spoils
The most valuable prize of the day is the £80,000 on offer for the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase at Aintree, so it’s no shock to see some high quality handicappers taking their chance and there are plenty within the 10-runner field who’ve real claims.
Last yr’s winner, the Philip-Hobbs-trained War Sound, runs off only a 2lb larger mark and landed this 12 months in the past on his seasonal return, so health should not be a difficulty as he begins his 2019/20 marketing campaign.
Irish raider The West’s Awake, fitted with first-time blinkers is another for the shortlist, but top weight Cepage (Aintree 2:05 NAP) appears the one here regardless of having run simply once in the final 19 months.
The Venetia Williams-trained gelding is a fragile kind who doesn’t stand too much racing, however ran a stormer on his only outing last year when second to the high-class Frodon in a sizzling Grade three chase at Cheltenham last December.
He’s 4lb larger now but the 11-month absence isn’t a priority and, along with his yard very a lot among the winners during the last week or so, he should give a good account of himself beneath Charlie Deutsch.
Copper to shine in Badger Beers Chase
Wincanton presents a fine seven-race card and, while many elements of the country have been lashed by rain in recent days, the Somerset venue is forecasting good ground.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddles two in the Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase, a Listed race over 3m1f, including his Present Man, winner of this contest for the last two years.
The nine-year-old prevailed off a 4lb decrease mark last term but hasn’t been seen since pulling up on his first start following wind surgical procedure within the Slot Online Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown in April. The effervescent Bryony Frost gets on well with Present Man and he should once more be thereabouts as he runs very well contemporary.
However, his steady companion Give Me A Copper (Wincanton three:35 NB), part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is marginally preferred. The mount of Harry Cobden, this nine-year-old has solely run 9 times in his life however has loads of ability and ended last season with a decent fourth of 15 in the hot Sandown race by which Present Man was pulled up.
He boasts an excellent 4 wins from 5 attempts on accomplished starts following a lay-off of greater than 80 days, so should be able to roll on this primary outing of the season.
Exciting chaser Santini begins quest for Gold
There’s plenty of other good racing over the sticks at Naas and Kelso on Saturday and on the All Weather at Southwell, but for our third and final weekend selection we look to Sandown where there’s an intriguing race in prospect for the Listed Virgin Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase.
This three-mile contest has only attracted four runners, however there are some huge names making their respective seasonal returns including Alan King’s exciting prospect Talkischeap.
Winner of the Grade three Slot Online Gold Cup at this venue over 3m5f within the spring, he’s already being talked of as a potential Grand National horse subsequent spring and is on supply at 33/1 for the Aintree marathon ahead of Sunday’s race.
Tom Cannon’s mount was tremendously impressive when scoring here last season, however at this shorter journey, he may just find Nicky Henderson’s Santini (Sandown 2:25) too good on Sunday.
A Grade 1 winner at three miles over hurdles, Santini ran a mighty race finally time period’s Cheltenham Festival when failing by just half a size to Topofthegame in the Grade 1 RSA Novices Chase.
He’s officially rated 6lb superior to Talkischeap and solely concedes 2lb, so assuming he’s moderately fit (he gained first outing final year), the present 8/1 shot within the ante-post marketplace for the Cheltenham Gold Cup ought to get off to a winning begin this time period.
Verdict: Cepage (Aintree 2:05 NAP) can proceed the recent good run of coach Venetia Williams, while Give Me A Copper (Wincanton 3:35 NB) has each likelihood underneath the proficient younger rider Harry Cobden.
On to Sunday and Santini (Sandown 2:25) should have too much class for his rivals firstly of what could be a huge season for the exciting prospect.