Nick Luck’s blog: Time for Sam Brown to shine

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over this weekend’s racing from Wincanton, Aintree and on the Flat at Newcastle.

Wincanton, Saturday

ENJOY YOUR LIFE could yet have something to offer in the UK, and is taken to win the opener at Wincanton (1.15pm) at 7/2. A nicely bred horse bought from the Bryant dispersal in France, he ran one nice race (here) and two modest ones in three starts for Venetia Williams earlier this year, but the balance of those runs points to this trip and easy ground being what he wants. He can cope with this grade, but is still low in the weights. It wouldn’t surprise me to see quite a bit more today, particularly with the stable cranking into life.

GIVEGA might be worth a small play at 8/1 in the Rising Stars (1.50pm). Favourite Knappers Hill looks a bit short given one opponent with comparable chase form and two more with some serious potential. Despite bursting blood vessels on his two non-completions last year, Givega falls firmly into the latter category, and it is not unreasonable to think fences will enable him to establish a fluent front-running rhythm. Gary Moore has said he “thinks the world of him” and he’s almost certainly more talented than his rating suggests.

SAM BROWN must be a big player in the Badger Beer (2.25pm) at 7/1. He might be 11, and with some ropey looking form figures of late, but he has no mileage for a horse of that age and was about to post something like a career best when falling at Punchestown on his latest start. That, plus his first time out effort last year when just four lengths off Bravemansgame, suggests his current mark is not too stiff, and the rain will have played into his hands and against the Paul Nicholls-trained market principals.

HANSARD might be better equipped for conditions in the Elite Hurdle (3.00pm). I wouldn’t be dogmatic about it, but the way Rubaud has really thrived on good ground suggests he’ll likely be less effective on this. By contrast, the selection travelled stylishly with give underfoot last year, and his Aintree run is right up there with the best form on offer. In receipt of six pounds, he should make it a race at least and represents a bit better value at 7/4.

PLENTY OF TIME may have been underestimated in the Mares’ race (3.32pm). This could be quite a smart piece of placing to bring her back over hurdles for a nice prize given the handicapper’s apparent leniency after her winning chase debut here. I was impressed with her attitude that day, and she certainly won’t mind what will amount to a stiffer test of stamina. She has a race fitness edge over all those ahead of her in the market and makes appeal at 11/1.

Aintree, Saturday

BORN BY THE SEA won’t mind a slog for the Grand Sefton at Aintree (2.45pm) and should go well at 12/1. A tremendously durable customer, he loved it round here when an excellent sixth in the National. Most of his form would suggest that he actually wants a less extreme test than that, while – although unconventionally campaigned – he appears to go on just about any ground.

BREWIN’UPASTORM is a token pick in a trappy little three horse affair (3.20pm). He sometimes looks less than straightforward, but his record in small fields in very good, he likes it wet, and he’s won this race before. You could make a case for each of these, but at 15/8 his is the most compelling.

Newcastle, Saturday

VERA VERTO gets the vote at 9/1 in the first of the TV races at Newcastle (1.30pm). She is entering uncharted territory as regards surface, but you know that a really decent test at 10 furlongs is going to bring her into play, and she is one of the only fillies in here that has been in consistently good form this season. On ratings, she is legitimate, and her trainer always commands maximum respect.

BRAD THE BRIEF (11/2) might have found a race that he can win at Newcastle (2.05pm). Clearly Sense Of Duty hacks up on last season’s Chipchase form, but she’s not looked great in two tries this year, while the selection definitely offered signs of a revival in France last time and gets a trip, track and class scenario that actually appears suitable.

TEUMESSIAS FOX is the selection at 6/1 for the November handicap (3.45pm). He has a sound record on synthetic – including here – and was in good order last time we saw him, when a pretty unlucky fifth in a competitive Racing League fixture at Windsor. I like the return to the surface, and I like the return to this trip. Even more, I like that he’s had a break, something that has had a positive effect more than once before.