Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday's racing coming your way from Doncaster, Aintree, Wincanton, Kelso and Chelmsford City on 9 November 2024.
DONCASTER
Race 6 No5 TWO STARS
Trainer: James Stack – Jockey: Joey Sheridan
TWO STARS opened his 2024 account with a snug victory over five furlongs at the Curragh last week. He’s out to consolidate upped in trip and under a 5lb penalty, and can make his first visit to the UK a winning one.
Race 7 No7 DANIELLE (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
DANIELLE lost no caste in defeat when chasing home Max Vega in the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury, having been highly tried throughout the year as a regular visitor to the marquee meetings. She is handed a welcome class drop in this Listed race, in which she is expected to take care of business.
Race 8 No17 FLASH BARDOT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
The make and shape of the final race of the 2024 Flat season looks tailor made for the strong travelling FLASH BARDOT. The Sixties Icon filly has signaled in her last two runs that she’s on the cusp of taking out a soft ground handicap, and this historic race could be within her compass.
Along with the winner Miller Spirit she came clear of her rivals at Newbury a fortnight ago, whilst trading very short in running under a patient ride. Probert knows her well, and the combination can arrive late on the scene to engage in a finish that could also involve INSANITY, VALVANO and MASTER BUILDER.
AINTREE
Race 3 No8 GUARD THE MOON
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Hat-trick seeking GUARD THE MOON impressed on his first run in a handicap at Warwick and has to be taken seriously as he steps up the distance ladder under a penalty. He looked in good order cantering up his trainer’s steep all-weather on Thursday, and is a progressive type who has more to give in this admittedly tougher assignment.
Race 5 No7 IDALKO BIHOUE (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
The same trainer/jockey combination should be in the mix again with lightly raced IDALKO BIHOUE. The French-bred gelding is having just a fifth outing over fences which makes him unexposed compared to the majority of his rivals.
He’s schooled well at home, suggesting these different obstacles shouldn’t faze him on a first outing for 200 days. One I’m frightened of and worth saving on is FRERO BANBOU, who finished second in the corresponding race 12 months ago and competes off a 3lb lower mark.
WINCANTON
Race 3 No2 PRETENDING ( Each Way)
Trainer: Lucy Wadham – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Consistency has been the watchword of PRETENDING, who continued from where she left off at the end of last season with a clear cut success at Uttoxeter for which she’s 6lb higher in the weights. The grey landed some good bets with Sheehan in the saddle for the first time, she’s come out of it well and should claim another podium finish.
Race 4 No3 HANDSTANDS
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
This interesting Grade 2 novices’ chase can see HANDSTANDS make a winning debut over fences for a stable just starting to run into some form. Winner of his only point outing in Ireland and then three novice hurdles after joining Pauling, his only career blemish occurred in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, after which he was put away for the summer. As an out and out chasing prospect he’s one to follow however he gets on against smart rival INSURRECTION today.
Race 6 No6 THE CHANGING MAN (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Although his 2023/24 season proved fruitless, THE CHANGING MAN appeals as a well weighted contender for this renewal of the Badger Beer Handicap Chase. It took the selection a while to grasp the rudiments of jumping fences but he re emerges as a potential blot, bearing in mind that he needs to win this to get into the Coral Trophy at Newbury two weeks from now.
KELSO
Race 2 No4 CHASE A FORTUNE
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
CHASE A FORTUNE spent last spring chasing the shadow of Trac, but in different circumstances he can be backed to turn the tables on that hat-trick seeking rival. He’s had a run that has put a cutting edge on him, while this course should suit him better than Sedgefield.
Race 4 No7 ARTIC ROW (Each Way)
Trainer: Nick Alexander – Jockey: Bruce Lynn
ARTIC ROW comes with risks attached, but granted his record of having won three of his four completed starts over fences he figures to be competitive if putting in a clear. He’s a normally good jumper, but on occasions last season blotted his copybook with silly mistakes.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 9 No9 MAJESTIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Former Cambridgeshire winner MAJESTIC makes value appeal in a first run under new ownership. The six-year-old is carded to start amongst the roughies in an interesting nightcap, but ran better than his placing suggests when on the wrong side of the track in a repeat attempt at the first leg of the autumn double, and looks over priced.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
4, 1 x 5, 4, 7 x 7, 10, 1 x 2 x 8, 3 x 4, 6 x 8, 6
R144
