Nick Luck
Horse Racing Tips: Saturday’s Best Bets from Aintree and Doncaster
William Hill Ambassador Nick Luck previews Saturday’s racing from Aintree and Doncaster, headlined by the William Hill Molyneux Hurdle.
Saturday, Aintree
SANS BRUIT might be the overpriced one in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (1.15pm) on Saturday. Clearly, Kadastral is going to take a huge chunk out of the market given his unexposed profile and his top stable, but the selection is a very useful horse with more than one Red Rum to his name. He’s now on a very dangerous mark, with a claimer who knows him well taking off the five pounds, it would surprise me at all to see more than a spark of life on his seasonal debut.
MYDADDYPADDY vs Alexei vs Mange Tout is an excellent race for the William Hill Molyneux Hurdle (1.45pm). Mydaddypaddy is the selection in a race that brings together Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Champion Hurdle form from last year. The most exciting strand for me is the Supreme horses, and Mydaddypaddy did really well for one so inexperienced. He still looked a shade on the green side, but he tanked through that race like a very good horse and his time stood up very well to the Champion Hurdle too. This really should be a fine season for a horse who can make up into one of the leading contenders for the Champion Hurdle.
TALK TO THE MAN gets the narrow vote over former stable companion No Drama This End in what promises to be an engaging tussle for the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (2.25pm). I don’t think there’s a vast amount between them on ability, but the selection just edges it at the current prices. He has the run under his belt and jumped really well when defeating a classy horse in Klimt Madrik. I don’t think this slightly different test is going to pose any issues for him. You could also make the point that Favour And Fortune is too big a price for what he achieved over hurdles, albeit he’s a late-comer to fences.
OUR GUIDE looks a solid selection for the Pertemps Qualifier (3.00pm). He’s off a mark of 125 which means he’s going to need to win at least one more race to give himself a chance of getting into the final in March, so you can safely conclude that this is quite an important day for him. The stable are flying at present and this one just needs to build a little on his most recent start at Chepstow, but the extra half mile will give him the opportunity to do just that.
BOOMBAWN is an obvious pick in the Play Lucky Stable With William Hill Handicap Chase (3.35pm) at Aintree. He ran in the Old Roan last year and posted a very good effort in fourth off a 10lbs higher mark. He’s had a prep run over hurdles for this, he gets cheekpieces on, and with the stable jockey taking over, this pick is not going to get any prizes for originality, but he looks to have all his ducks in a row ahead of this race.
Saturday, Doncaster
COUL ANGEL can land the hattrick in the Wentworth Stakes (2.10pm) at Doncaster. He’s won two very competitive handicaps in fine style at the Curragh and York, and I was really impressed when he defied a significant rise in the weights to take the second of those. He doesn’t need to improve too much to take a hand here, he’s firmly on the upgrade.
FELICITAS can take the Listed Filles’ Stakes (2.45pm). She’s a very well-bred filly who made deep impressions on her first couple of starts, notably running well in the Musidora. She’s been marking time a little bit since, but it was a good return last time at Newmarket when not getting the clearest of passages through, but if she can improve on that, slightly down in grade, she’ll be right there with her stable in excellent form.
MISS DOLLY ROCKER might be the answer to the November Handicap (3.25pm). she was second in it last year and only racing off 1lb higher this time. She has had much racing this season, being kept away from the firm ground over the summer, and probably needed her reappearance run last time which should have put her spot on for this. She from a family that excels when the mud is flying and she’s got a great draw, so there is a lot to like about Miss Dolly Rocker and hopefully she’s a nice each-way price
