Aintree and Wincanton races are two proper National Hunt tracks, but unseasonably good ground continues to impact field sizes. Their latest meetings, which both feature prominently in the latest ITV Racing broadcast on Saturday, 9 November, include the Grand Sefton Chase and Badger Beer Chase.
Neither of those handicap chases attracts a full field. The former, contested over the famous Grand National fences, received just 13 declarations. As for the big 3m 1f Premier Handicap at Wincanton races, only 10 go.
A lack of runners in supporting events like the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle and Rising Stars Novices’ Chase is also a problem. Punters have their work cut out in their battle with the bookies and horse racing betting sites in search of value again.
Our experts comb through the entries, such as they are, with this detailed preview. Not every race at both track appears, because of runners with engagements elsewhere leaving events in danger of cutting up.
Aintree & Wincanton Races Preview for Saturday, 9 November
12:20 Aintree – 2m 4f Class 4 National Hunt Novice Hurdle
Penalised pair BEN SOLO and Glynn Brae have a fitness edge over dual bumper winner Mister Meggit. Each represents credible and strong connections, so it’s a matter of who goes best on the good ground.
The former, hailing for Rebecca Curtis’ Welsh yard might be the answer, despite conceding weight all-round. Ben Solo ran on very nicely over 2m when scoring at Chepstow on reappearance, shaping as if this longer trip would suit.
Concerns about the sound surface are a worry for Glynn Brae, who won on heavy around Stratford for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies. Mister Meggit bled when not firing in, but sent off favourite for a Grade 2 bumper here in the spring.
Kepler’s Law is an interesting newcomer from the Laura Morgan yard. He won an Irish Point in some style, but may be better watched on his British and Rules bow. The others must find significant improvement.
12:55 Aintree – 3m 1f Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
A very poor race with just four winners. Curtis should really go one better with Chepstow second HAITI COULEURS here. The winner almost went in again at Newbury on Thursday, and they pulled well clear of the remainder.
Haiti Couleurs is the only one in the line-up from a Pointing background. Meagre opposition includes Uncle Bert, who steps markedly up in trip but will be more comfortable racing left-handed.
The Twiston-Davies’ runner simply could go the pace at Uttoxeter or when pulled-up around Carlisle last time. Ike Sport likes good ground for Neil Mulholland, meanwhile, but must improve on his debut fourth over fences.
Course hurdles winner Equinus completes the line-up, but is 5lb higher now than when successful here last autumn. That still means bottom weight here, but Sarah-Jayne Davies’ charge is only 3lb behind Haiti Couleurs at the weights.
1:09 Wincanton – 2m 4f Class 3 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
Tedley loves good ground and, although Jamie Brace can only claim 3lb here, he’s the form horse and won over hurdles here. Most of Duke Of Luckley’s 6lb rise in the weights if offset by the booking of 5lb claimer Daire McConville.
Beau Balko is also respected with Paul Nicholls’ charge dropping 2lb despite staying on nicely into third around Kempton last time. Over an extra couple of furlongs, and with Ben Bromley taking 3lb off with his claim, he can have a say in the finish against the Twiston-Davies and Martin Keighley horses.
This trip doesn’t look much good to elder statesman Killer Kane rising 10, for all the Joe Tizzard team are in form. A lack of recent run for Dreaming Blue, no better than third in four goes over course and distance, means he looks up against it.
1:30 Aintree – 3m 149y Class 2 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier
He will need to win this to have any hope of getting into the Final of the Series during the Cheltenham Festival. Placed efforts at Cheltenham and Haydock from Harbour Lake in the spring give him claims for Alan King if ready to go on reappearance, meanwhile.
Bold Endeavour is back with Laura Morgan following a spell at the Nicky Henderson stable. The handicapper gives little respite to this consistently placed horse, though. Reverend Hubert comes over from Ireland, meanwhile, and his last three wins were on good ground.
At bigger prices, Willaston is back down to his last winning mark. He hasn’t been the easiest to train for Mark Walford by any means but, if he comes on for his reappearance third around Uttoxeter, he has good pieces of back form.
1:45 Wincanton 2m 5f Class 2 Richard Barber Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
The biggest field of the day is competitive, according to online bookies, and features four previous course and distance winners at Wincanton races, but PRETENDING appeals more than any of them. Lucy Wadham’s five-year-old twice scored on good ground at this level either side of a summer break.
Pretending is up another 6lb from Uttoxeter but, having previously made all over almost this trip around Cheltenham, should have no worries getting slightly further. Dropping Grade 2 winner All The Glory back in trip hasn’t worked for the Jonjo O’Neill stable, so a greater stamina test off 6lb higher than her Newbury win may be a better route.
Nicholls runs two with both Sabrina and Larchmont Lass previous course and distance winners. The former is often best caught in the spring, if recent seasons are any indicator. The latter has something to find with All The Glory on Newbury form.
Last year’s first and third Good Luck Charm and Space Voyage are back for more. Olly Murphy’s runner meets the winner off 13lb better terms now with Lewis Stones again booked and taking 3lb off. The swing in weights looks significant.
The in-form James Owen team saddle Bangor winner Mermaids Cave and offset a 4lb rise in the handicap with the booking of 7lb claimer Callum Pritchard. Bethpage could also go well if improving for her reappearance second around Ludlow.
2:05 Aintree – 1m 7f 167y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-130)
Although fortune to win over course and distance in October, IMPERIAL SAINT has an extensive Pointing background. Fences could be the making of this runner from the Philip Hobbs yard, who is 4lb higher now.
There are ground concerns for Venetia Williams’ Hunter Legend, so class-dropping Cheltenham fourth Coastguard Station may emerge as a bigger danger.
David Christie sends Jack Holiday over from Northern Ireland again, and he could go well under Sean Bowen. This is a trappy race and fairly weak for the grade, though.
2:23 Wincanton – 2m 4f Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase
He now heads to Wincanton races for the Ben Pauling stable for his steeplechase bow. Handstands won an Irish Point before joining current connections and landed a Listed race around Huntingdon last term.
It’s a nonsense that Glynn can go from running in a veterans’ chase over course and distance to this graded novice for Anthony Honeyball. Aged 10 he is surely vulnerable to the likes of Handstands, half his age.
Soul Icon is 0 from 7 over fences and often found one or two too good in races like this last term. The market settles on the least exposed runner, but it would be no surprise if Insurrection took a step forward from Chepstow or greater Boombawn’s experience of this discipline aided his cause.
2:40 Aintree – 2m 5f Class 2 Grand Sefton Chase
Latenightpass is at the veteran stage, but ran well for such a long way here in the big one over the spring that he has a chance off 2lb lower. Notable newcomers to this unique test include Market Rasen Summer Plate winner Sure Touch.
Nicholls tries Outlaw Peter over the fences for the first time. The same applies to Twiston-Davies runner Idalko Bihoue. Gaboriot unseated at the Canal Turn in the Foxhunters, but represents last year’s winning jockey and yard.
Richmond Lake was 10th in the Topham and might still be high in the weights, but is another to have completed the course. Harper’s Brook has a race in him, but often pulls himself up in front and the long run-in may not help Dan Skelton’s new recruit.
2:55 Wincanton – 1m 7f Grade 2 Elite Hurdle
Pathetic that Wincanton races can only attract three runners. Last year’s winner Rubaud is back to defend his crown, but concedes 6lb to two rivals with a 1lb higher rating than him. The good ground appears important to the Ditcheat inmate.
BRENTFORD HOPE ran a blinder off a big weight at the Punchestown Festival when last in action, however. That gives Harry Deham’s horse hope of reversing Taunton form with Rubaud from earlier in their careers.
If Brentford Hope can’t serve it up to his old rival, then Aspire Tower has back form that would win this. Rated 160 at his peak, a much-reduced mark of 148 may underestimate him. Henry De Bromhead’s runner made all at Punchestown last month despite a 225-day break and should strip fitter for that reappearance.
3:15 Aintree – 2m 1f Class 4 Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
Low grade for a Saturday card, but bottom weight IRISH LULLABY looks well-treated off a 4lb lower mark than when last successful and following wind surgery. It could be a good day for the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero training partnership on Merseyside. Irish Lullaby may come on for her reappearance now back on a sounder surface.
There are three in-form horses against the mare, however. Topweight Deploy To Spy makes his handicap debut after consecutive wins around Uttoxeter and Perth. Prolific Profile lives up to his name following a hat-trick of victories at a lower level in recent weeks, improving to the tune of 20lb in the assessor’s opinion.
Donald McCain runs two, meanwhile, with Camarrate the pick of those. The four-year-old scored at Fakenham and Sedgefield. Camarrate previous ran fourth to last month’s Cheltenham winner Givemefive in a juvenile hurdle, which has obviously been advertised. Nayati also represents the yard, but looks vulnerable rising 11.
3:30 Wincanton – 3m 1f Badger Beer Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Remastered is 11, but fellow golden oldie Al Dancer frames the handicap for him. The yard is in good form and this doesn’t demand as much as his 2022 Coral Gold Cup second off 3lb lower. If the market is any indicator, then the Maclennan family have major claims of winning this.
Those owners run two in Lord Accord, who loves good ground, and Mofasa. The former is the last one in the race not running from out of the handicap. Neil Mulholland’s nine-year-old bolted up over course and distance last month, and is only 5lb higher than when making all unchallenged.
Mofasa, meanwhile, moved to Ditcheat last season. Nicholls horses have often needed their reappearance this term, but he’s back down to his last winning mark. The Changing Man heads the betting despite his status as a maiden over fences. He won for Team Tizzard on good ground over hurdles, but his jumping must improve to win this.
Anthony Honeyball runs three with Forward Plan the pick of those going for the big prize at Wincanton races after coming sixth last year. The market prefers Lord Baddesley, but he’s a new recruit to the yard and he has to prove his stamina. Gustavian completes the stable’s trio, but he’s racing from out of the handicap.
