Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Saturday Tips – DS
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Preview and Tips
What a weekend of racing we have ahead of us. The November Handicaps at Donny and Naas, the Grand Sefton at Aintree, the Champion Chase at Down Royal and The Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland (Friday tips here). ITV will be showing no less than 20 races on Saturday and Dave Stevos has been flat to the mat trying to find winners. Hopefully these get us off to a good start, Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton tips are below.
12.40 Wincanton – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
With rain forecast on Friday night, the ground might ease a bit from the current description of good. That will suit former course winner and rank outsider, Petticoat Lucy. Jeremy Scott and these owners had a nice winner with Champagne Court at Newbury on Thursday and this 6yo mare could surprise a few with a decent run back up at 21f.
Her win came by 3L in a soft ground 15f Novice Hurdle here back in December of last year. She beat a mare called Finest View and she has since won four and is rated 131. Things haven’t gone as well for this mare since that win but she had an excuse when pulling up with an irregular heartbeat over today’s C&D next time out. The ground may have been too quick for her last time at Warwick and she’s been off since.
She returns to action for just her second handicap start off a mark of 112. She is by Fame And Glory, a real source of stamina in jumpers, and her grand dam is a half to Gold Cup winner Mr Mulligan so surely, staying will be her game. Scott has a fine record at Wincanton and you’d imagine Daryl Jacob will be keen to impress on his first ever ride for this yard. Petticoat Lucy isn’t one for maximum stakes but at the odds, a small e/w interest is advised.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: Petticoat Lucy e/w @ 25/1
12.50 Doncaster – Wentworth Stakes (Listed)
It’s going to be a slog for the dozen sprinters going in search of black type in this Listed, 6f heat. Art Power likes it soft but will he be able to give weight away on this ground? Commanche Falls did us a favour at Goodwood earlier this year and he has held his form extremely well. However, he has yet to win on heavy and all his best recent form is on much nicer ground.
At the prices, it might be worth taking a punt on Fast Response at around 18/1. This 3yo hit form at the start of this month, landing successive races at Nottingham (5f sft) and here (5f hvy). She came up short off his revised mark of 94 at Nottingham last time (5f sft) but the daughter of Fast Company is worth another chance now returned to bottomless conditions.
She has come up short on two previous attempts in stakes company. However, one of those was on the all-weather and the other came on fast ground at Ayr. This will be her first chance on her optimal surface and black type would be huge for her page. Hopefully Cliff Lee drops her out, takes his time and comes home fast and late for place money. At odds of 18/1, Fast Response is the e/w pick.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: Fast Response e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)
1.01 Aintree – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Just eight runners and only one of them is bigger than 10/1. A race I’m happy to leave well alone. No bet.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: No Bet
1.15 Wincanton – Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Just the six runners and not a betting race. McFabulous is 6/5 and if he is fit for his comeback he should win. The one that looks a shade overpriced is Mortlach but with just two places on offer, I’ll keep the powder dry.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: No Bet
1.30 Doncaster – Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
A 10f Listed heat for the fillies and it is great to see a big field of 18. This looks a nice race for e/w players and at around 25/1, Precisely looks to have a chance of picking up some precious black type. This late blooming 5yo has taken her form to a new level this season. She started out in June finishing 2nd at Wetherby off a mark of 74. She then reeled off three wins in a row at Newbury (10f gd) off 74, Ffos Las (10f gd/sft) off 77 and then at Goodwood (10f gd/sft) off 81.
Her trainer John Butler decided to have a go in Listed company next time at Yarmouth (10f gd) and she wasn’t disgraced, beat just under 6L into 9th. She was conceding 6lbs to the 105 rated runner up Mise En Scene and she was only 4L behind the 100 rated Sound Angela.
This mare is arguably best on softer ground and she ran a cracker on that type of surface when beat 0.5L by Mr Alan off 86 at Nottingham last time out. He was getting a 3yo allowance from Butler’s mare and he is rated 92 so Precisely ran well above her mark. She is well worth another try in Listed company on this ground and Neil Callan is 3/12 for Butler with 4 top 4 finishes. With only one circuit to ride we won’t have to worry about him riding out the finish early and at 25/1, hopefully he can steer Precisely into the frame.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: Precisely e/w @ 25/1 (4 places) nb
1.50 Wincanton – Badger Beer Handicap Chase (Class 1)
Frodon is the star attraction in this 25f handicap chase. Paul Nicholls decided to swerve Down Royal due to the ground and instead he pitches up off 12 stone here. His form nosedived after his Irish win last year and as a result, he actually looks very well handicapped off a mark of 158. A bold bid is likely on the cards but the bookies haven’t missed him.
At the opposite end of the handicap, maybe Irish Prophecy can go well for Emma Lavelle and Tom Bellamy. He flopped in this race last year off a mark of 144. However, Lavelle ran him just 13 days earlier over 28f at Wincanton when he hacked up off 137 and the run likely came way too soon under a 7lb penalty.
This horse is a dual Wincanton winner and this race is likely his Gold Cup. Lavelle has learnt from her mistake this time and she has freshened her charge up after a welcome return to form when 2nd at Warwick off 135 six weeks ago. He’s just 1lb higher today and 1lb lower than for that easy win here a year ago. He’ll think he is running loose with just 10st 6lbs on his back and at odds of 12/1, Irish Prophecy looks well worth chancing e/w.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: Irish Prophecy e/w @ 12/1 (4 places) NAP
2.11 Aintree – Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (Class 2)
We are back over the Grand National fences for the first time this season and I can’t wait. Only 15 have been declared and the one I am taking a chance on is Jack Hackett. Ciaran Murphy has his string in great form and although this lad is 4lbs ‘wrong’ at the weights, I still think this slick jumper is capable of running into the frame.
The 8yo has mostly been campaigned at his local track Kilbeggan over the last few months. He won over 20f there on good to yielding off 120 in June and he has been running well over trips that don’t really suit him since. On his next outing he didn’t stay 3 miles over hurdles and then he finished 3rd off 127 back over fences over 19f. Again, he didn’t get home over 25f next time and then he had a spin around back at 19f. The way he was ridden last time suggested that Murphy had another race in mind.
The visor, tongue tie and cheekpieces have all been discarded and Murphy has freshened Jack Hackett up. Robbie Dunne is a good booking and he has a really low racing weight of just 10st 2lbs. I always like backing prominent racers that can jump well in this race and Jack Hackett ticks both those boxes. At odds of 33/1, he is the each way selection in a wide open race.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: Jack Hackett e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
2.32 Down Royal – Champion Chase (Grade 1)
A crap turnout for this Grade 1. Galvin is odds on and I was impressed with him at Punchestown. He found just Frodon too good last year and he’ll likely go one better. Kemboy is the only one of these with a recent run but he’d prefer faster ground. Conflated is a very promising type and he won’t mind the ground, the question is whether he’ll need the run. Beacon Edge has flattered to deceive since winning his Grade 1 at Fairyhouse and he is best watched. Galvin should win but he’s too short for me. No bet.
Down Royal Tip: No bet
2.45 Aintree – Boylesports Hurdle (Class 2)
Another small field of just four and three of them have serious claims. Dashel Drasher is a personal favourite of mine and if the heavens open in time, he could take this. On ratings, Brewin’upastorm should win, just like he did last season. However, he has been known to throw in the occasional stinker, just like he did at the Grand National meeting in April. Langer Dan finally delivered on all the hype over this C&D in April and he has youth on his side. However, with no e/w betting available this is yet another no bet race.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: No Bet
3.00 Wincanton – Elite Hurdle (Grade 2)
Knight Salute at 8/1 looks a wrong price here. Milton Harris’ stable star landed a G1 two starts ago and he lost no caste in defeat behind the exciting Pied Piper at Cheltenham last time out. The 4yo has a big future ahead of him and I’m not sure why he has been put in as the rank outsider of this field.
The 11/10 fav is Sceau Royal, a 10yo bidding for his fourth win in the race and his third in a row. Alan King’s charge took a Listed hurdle at Kempton last month, the same route he followed in 2021. Is he as good as he was, probably not, and he also has to give weight to all three of his rivals.
Up In Class
Knappers Hill steps up from handicap company after a good win off 141 at Chepstow four weeks ago. He has won his last three in a row and he is undoubtedly a talented animal. He won a C&D novice on this card last year and this looks the right race for him. However, he is unproven in Graded company over timber and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares.
Milkwood is another solid handicapper who has won the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle. That race is a handicap though and this will be his first try in a proper Graded race. I usually wouldn’t have a bet in a four runner race but I can’t resist having a small win bet on Knight Salute at 8/1. I abandoned him when he won at Aintree last year, I don’t want to make the same mistake again.
Doncaster Aintree and Wincanton Tips: Knight Salute win @ 8/1
3.13 Doncaster – November Handicap (Class 2)
I’m going to go for a hail mary in this race. 12f, heavy ground and a big field…anything could happen. Hopefully what happens is that Jimmy Quinn drops Lunar Jet out and then finishes fast and late to take the win (or a place) at odds of 66/1. Mick Mullineaux has likely had this race in mind since last year’s renewal. In that race Lunar Jet ran an absolute blinder at 125/1, beat just 4L into 5th behind Farhan off a mark of 86.
He is back for another go off 8lbs lower (although he is 7lbs ‘wrong’). The ground has come right for the son of Ask and he is 19lbs better off with last year’s winner when Ryan Sexton’s claim is considered. He beat Dark Jedi by 6L that day and he is almost a stone better off with him too. Obviously, the two 3yos at the head of the market could be well handicapped but so is Lunar Jet.
Has he shown much since that fine run last year? His run at Chester in July was encouraging considering how far back he was and I’m not sure he was trying too hard the last twice. This will be the first time he gets his ground and optimum trip this season and if they go a good clip, he’ll hopefully be doing his best work at the finish. At odds of 66/1, Lunar Jet is the each way pick.
