Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Doncaster, Aintree and Wincanton on Saturday. View selections below.
CASTLE COVE (3.45) has been a bit expensive to follow but can end the Flat turf season in style by bagging the Virgin Bet November Handicap at Doncaster.
The William Haggas-trained gelding, not disgraced behind useful Saddadd at Sandown (soft) in late August, finished a slightly disappointing fourth in the 1m 5f Autumn Cup at Newbury when sent off 9-4 favourite. This slight drop in trip may do the trick.
Atherstone Warrior proved he handled testing conditions when scoring in the mud at Newbury for Gary and Josh Moore, while last year’s winner Lord Melbourne, one of two Ralph Beckett runners, now races off a 13lb higher mark.
MONTASSIB (1.25) is one for favourite backers in the 6f Virgin Bet Wentworth Stakes.
The seven-year-old ploughed through the mud to score over course and distance last March but could never quite recover from a tardy start before running on into third over an inadequate five furlongs at Newbury last month.
There’s action over the Grand National fences at Aintree where JOHNNYWHO (2.40) can defy top weight in the William Hill Grand Sefton Chase.
Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding, sporting the JP McManus hoops, was denied by a neck in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last March (pair clear) before running an excellent fifth in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Jet Plane, runner-up in the Foxhunters over course and distance in April, and last year’s winner King Turgeon can figure.
At the bottom of the handicap If Not For Dylan, third in a veterans’ chase here last month, could outrun his loud odds.
It’s Badger Beer Chase day at Wincanton and local trainer Paul Nicholls fields his usual strong team. He relies on Threeunderthrufive in the feature event but CREDO (3.30) is preferred from the Anthony Honeyball yard.
The ten-year-old, a winner at Carlisle and Exeter last season, goes well on right-handed circuits and a repeat of his third place here last October would make Credo competitive on her seasonal debut.
Art Of Diplomacy was unlucky not to have racked up his sixth victory of the campaign when stumbling at the final fence at Chepstow last month. He represents a danger.
Nicholls is double-handed in his bid to land the handicap hurdle named in honour of his late owners Paul and Richard Barber, with JUBILEE ALPHA (1.45) fancied to defy top weight.
The six-year-old, a three-time scorer last season, bowed out on a winning note at Cheltenham in April.
Stable companion Jena D’oudairies lurks further down the weights and has the services of Freddie Gingell.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
