UK racing tips – Saturday 11 November 2023

WINCANTON

Race 2 – HUELGOAT 9/2

GUELGOAT placed second over course and distance on Boxing Day last year.

Went well in September at Worcester when fourth tackling a competitive novices handicap hurdle and rates highly.

Another Crick scored by a convincing four and a half lengths attempting this journey at Warwick in May. Holds form in this grade and may go close.

Go Steady and Dreaming Blue could also make the frame.

Race 3 – DOYEN STAR 15/2

Paul Nicholls will have high hopes Knappers Hill can go one better than on his chasing debut at Chepstow and while he will be much better suited by conditions in the Boodles ‘Rising Star’ Novices’ Chase, he lacks the scope to reach the heights he did over hurdles.

Instead it might be worth taking a chance on the potential of DOYEN STAR, trained by Evan Williams.

He has yet to taste defeat in a point-to-point and two novice hurdles and the fact the usually cautious Williams is letting him make his chasing debut in Grade Two company is telling.

Race 4 – THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE 15/4

It is no secret that Nicholls targets the Badger Beer Handicap Chase and the champion trainer can win it for a 12th time with THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE.

It is the 62nd year of sponsorship of the famous race and being a local, Nicholls loves nothing more than taking the prize back to his Ditcheat base in Somerset, as he did last year with Frodon.

There will not be a dry eye on the course if Frodon can repeat the trick under Bryony Frost but off the same mark and with another 12 months on his back, surely time will have caught up with him.

Threeunderthrufive has that touch of class needed to win this but also appeals as one on a fair mark.

He rattled off a four-timer as a novice chaser, including two Grade Twos, but struggled a little against the big boys last season, although he was not disgraced when fourth in the Scottish National when last seen.

While it may be because of the races he has run in, his record on a right-handed track is also much better than going left and having had a wind op too, he has plenty in his favour.

Race 5 – RUBAND 8/15

Nicholls’ RUBAND should extend his winning run in the Jenningsbet Elite Hurdle.

Since finding the Betfair Hurdle a bit too hot, he has won the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, the Scottish Champion Hurdle and reappeared with a win at Kempton.

He likes decent ground and sharp tracks and, barring the obvious in Constitution Hill, could be one of the better two-mile hurdlers in the UK this season.

Race 6 – LIME AVENUE 11/4

LIME AVENUE found success by a comfortable five lengths attempting a course and distance novices hurdle during February and is open to further improvement.

Ilovethenightlife was a G2 mares novices hurdle winner last season at Newbury and may go close.

Plenty Of Time won a novices handicap chase here last month and is of interest along with Vicki Vale.

NEWCASTLE

Race 4 – VEIL OF SHADOWS 11/4

VEIL OF SHADOWS showed plenty of ability last month at Newmarket when a strong second in the G3 Pride Stakes over this distance on soft ground.

Enjoyed the all-weather prior and now down in grade rates a top selection.

Mukaddamah ran well at Yarmouth two outings back when runner-up tackling this level and trip and should be included in your calculations.
Sound Angela and Persist complete the shortlist.

Race 5 – SENSE OF DUTY 5/4

SENSE OF DUTY must put a lacklustre effort behind her as she lines up at Newcastle in the Virgin Bet-sponsored Wentworth Stakes.

Connections hinted midweek if she shows here she is not the force of old, she will be heading to the paddocks after her slightly disappointing run at Ascot on Champions Day.

However, before her long lay-off she was a Group Three winner over this course and distance and she escapes a penalty in this Listed race.

Race 8 – CHILLINGHAM 13/2

Ed Bethell’s CHILLINGHAM is one of the few with a progressive profile in the Virgin Bet November Handicap.

Placed at Royal Ascot behind Vauban, he arrives here fresher than most and may well have been aimed at this for some time by his upwardly-mobile trainer.

AINTREE

Race 5 – BORN BY THE SEA 14/1

BORN BY THE SEA is an Irish raider from Galway and was last seen in England coming a respectable sixth in the Grand National.

He seems to have a good chance here and has a recent run under his belt, and although he has a poor win record he does place consistently.
His main aim this term would appear to be another tilt at the Grand

National again, and if this was last year, you would think he would not necessarily be trying to win, but with the National field to be reduced to 34 runners, he needs to start winning to secure a place in the race.

Cooper’s Cross is better over longer trips and was a very creditable second in the Scottish Grand National when last seen.

He is also better on a sounder surface and is eight pounds above his previous winning mark, expect him to run well but he may find the trip too sharp.

Fantastic Lady won first time out last season, but seems to prefer better ground, although she has won on soft as well.

She has a lot of weight to carry on this ground and is eight pounds above her last winning mark, so it will take a career-best performance to win this.

That said, the stable is in top form, so Fantastic Lady will give a good account of herself.

Each-way on the Irish raider Born By The Sea looks like the way forward.

Race 6 – WEST BALBOA 10/11

A small of field of just three should see the Dan Skelton-trained WEST BALBOA claim the glory.

The seven-year-old showed plenty of ability last season delivering a narrow success in a competitive handicap hurdle tackling a similar trip at Kempton in January and a five length premier handicap hurdle victory over three miles and a furlong here during April.