Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 11 November 2023

AINTREE

Race 3 No2 IWILLDOIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

This stable reintroduced Our Power in a hurdle on Thursday and are adopting the same ploy with IWILLDOIT whose target is another shot at the Welsh National. The ten-year-old has not been without his issues and raced on just two occasions last winter, but he has won first time out in each of the last two seasons and needs respecting on this first hurdle start in 18 months.

Race 4 No1 MASTER CHEWY (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

MASTER CHEWY jumped with pinpoint accuracy when scoring on his chase debut here two weeks ago. He appears to have taken those exertions in his stride and is a classy individual who probably has more to offer. Things didn’t work out for him over hurdles last season, but he’s in the mood to carry on making up for lost time, and is a horse to follow through the winter.

Race 5 No7 FRERO BANBOU (Each Way)
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch

This first race run over the Grand National fences this season has attracted a smaller field than usual. It lacks a standout candidate, and in siding with FRERO BANBOU I’m taking stock of the fact that his trainer’s chasers love to get their feet into the ground, and are performing well. The selection earned in his first four starts last season and was not disgraced when fading into midfield in the Magnets Plate at the Cheltenham Festival. He will be fit for his return to action, and should again trouble the judge.

WINCANTON

Race 3 No3 GIVEGA
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore

The Moores bring their best two young prospects to this course starting with GIVEGA in the ‘Rising Stars’ (Grade 2). The seven-year-old was unbeaten when completing the course in three hurdle starts last season and when things go right for him is very useful. He’s schooled well at home, and can give locally-trained favourite Knappers Hill plenty to think about.

Race 4 No1 FRODON
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Bryony Frost

For last year’s winner of this Badger Beer Handicap Chase FRODON it’s a red letter occasion as he returns under an identical burden of 12 stone. The eleven-year-old carries an aura with him to his local course and will bring the house down if repeating that 2022 triumph. He’s in great form for the task in hand, and can prevail at the main expense of Sam Brown and The Big Breakaway.

Race 5 JENNINGS BET ELITE HURDLE (Grade 2)

No3 HANSARD (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore

Rubaud will go off at prohibitive odds following his smooth Kempton success but may find HANSARD too hot to handle. The latter was unable to match his foe in a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Kempton in February but bounced back to finish fourth in the Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. He’s done particularly well for his summer at grass, and can develop into a top-flight operator this season.

KELSO

Race 5 No1 DE LEGISLATOR (Nap)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox

Russell brings a strong team to the meeting of which DE LEGISLATOR can prove the pick. The winning pointer landed the first two of his three outings over fences and has been well-tutored for his switch to fences.

Race 7 No2 SO THEY SAY ( Each Way)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox

The most interesting horse in this second division of the handicap hurdle is SO THEY SAY. She earned in both starts under Rules in novice hurdles before enduring training issues and now returns following a breathing operation. If the surgery has worked she can get into the shake-up.

NEWCASTLE

Race 3 No4 GOOD POINT (Each Way)
Trainer: Bryan Smart – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan

Blue Point colt GOOD POINT can make it an overdue first win of the year if getting the rub of the green in this nursery. He’s gone 23234 in his last five outings, but could raise his game sufficiently to open his account now switched to the all-weather.

Race 6 No9 ZOUMOON (Nap)
Trainer: James Ferguson – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt

ZOUMOON is a name to conjure with in this second division of the maiden. The Zoustar filly brings the experience card to the table, and with a couple of near-misses to her name is the clear form pick.

Race 8 No3 CHILLINGHAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald

CHILLINGHAM can end with a success in this last big handicap of the season the icing on what has been a bountiful cake for his trainer this season. While it’s the first time the November Handicap (normally run at Doncaster) has been staged on the all-weather, the switch shouldn’t inconvenience the ultra-consistent selection who has only had one previous start on sand but has trained well on it in Middleham.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Race 7 No8 DOUBLE TIME (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Mark Todd – Jockey: George Rooke

DOUBLE TIME has knocked on the door on his last three outings and would be a deserving winner of this race around a lap of the track. He was a game-winner here a year ago and should enjoy a return to the Polytrack surface.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)

2, 3 x 8 x 8, 6 x 1, 3 x 12, 8 x 8, 6, 9 x 2, 1

R96