{"id":10945,"date":"2024-11-08T12:36:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T12:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/?p=10945"},"modified":"2024-11-08T12:59:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T12:59:00","slug":"aintree-wincanton-races-preview-elite-hurdle-grand-sefton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/11\/08\/aintree-wincanton-races-preview-elite-hurdle-grand-sefton\/","title":{"rendered":"Aintree & Wincanton Races Preview – Saturday of Small Fields on Merseyside & in West Country"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wincanton<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> in search of value again.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Aintree & Wincanton Races Preview for Saturday, 9 November<\/h2>\n

12:20 Aintree – 2m 4f Class 4 National Hunt Novice Hurdle<\/h3>\n

Penalised pair\u00a0BEN SOLO <\/strong>and\u00a0Glynn Brae\u00a0<\/strong>have a fitness edge over dual bumper winner\u00a0Mister Meggit<\/strong>. Each represents credible and strong connections, so it’s a matter of who goes best on the good ground.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Kepler’s Law\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

12:55 Aintree – 3m 1f Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n

A very poor race with just four winners. Curtis should really go one better with Chepstow second HAITI COULEURS <\/strong>here. The winner almost went in again at Newbury on Thursday, and they pulled well clear of the remainder.<\/p>\n

Haiti Couleurs is the only one in the line-up from a Pointing background. Meagre opposition includes\u00a0Uncle Bert<\/strong>, who steps markedly up in trip but will be more comfortable racing left-handed.<\/p>\n

The Twiston-Davies’ runner simply could go the pace at Uttoxeter or when pulled-up around Carlisle last time.\u00a0Ike Sport\u00a0<\/strong>likes good ground for Neil Mulholland, meanwhile, but must improve on his debut fourth over fences.<\/p>\n

Course hurdles winner Equinus\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

1:09 Wincanton – 2m 4f Class 3 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n

\"Twiston-DaviesThe ITV Racing opener from Wincanton races could come down to a battle between recent winners\u00a0TEDLEY <\/strong>and\u00a0Duck Of Luckley<\/strong>. Preference is for the former, who seeks a hat-trick off a 6lb higher mark off a week’s turnaround from Wetherby.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Beau Balko\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

This trip doesn’t look much good to elder statesman\u00a0Killer Kane\u00a0<\/strong>rising 10, for all the Joe Tizzard team are in form. A lack of recent run for\u00a0Dreaming Blue<\/strong>, no better than third in four goes over course and distance, means he looks up against it.<\/p>\n

1:30 Aintree – 3m 149y Class 2 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier<\/h3>\n

\"PotterThe progressive horse is\u00a0GUARD THE MOON<\/strong>. Team Twiston-Davies managed wins over 2m 7f and 2m 5f around Hexham and Warwick either side of a summer break. Guard The Moon now steps up in Class off an attractive low weight.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong>in the spring give him claims for Alan King if ready to go on reappearance, meanwhile.<\/p>\n

Bold Endeavour\u00a0<\/strong>is back with Laura Morgan following a spell at the Nicky Henderson stable. The handicapper gives little respite to this consistently placed horse, though.\u00a0Reverend Hubert\u00a0<\/strong>comes over from Ireland, meanwhile, and his last three wins were on good ground.<\/p>\n

At bigger prices,\u00a0Willaston\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

1:45 Wincanton 2m 5f Class 2 Richard Barber Mares’ Handicap Hurdle<\/h3>\n

The biggest field of the day is competitive, according to online bookies<\/a>, and features four previous course and distance winners at Wincanton races, but PRETENDING<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0All The Glory\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Nicholls runs two with both\u00a0Sabrina\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Larchmont Lass<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Last year’s first and third\u00a0Good Luck Charm <\/strong>and\u00a0Space Voyage<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

The in-form James Owen team saddle Bangor winner Mermaids Cave<\/strong> and offset a 4lb rise in the handicap with the booking of 7lb claimer Callum Pritchard. Bethpage\u00a0<\/strong>could also go well if improving for her reappearance second around Ludlow.<\/p>\n

2:05 Aintree – 1m 7f 167y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-130)<\/h3>\n

Although fortune to win over course and distance in October,\u00a0IMPERIAL SAINT\u00a0<\/strong>has an extensive Pointing background. Fences could be the making of this runner from the Philip Hobbs yard, who is 4lb higher now.<\/p>\n

There are ground concerns for Venetia Williams’\u00a0Hunter Legend<\/strong>, so class-dropping Cheltenham fourth\u00a0Coastguard Station\u00a0<\/strong>may emerge as a bigger danger.<\/p>\n

David Christie sends\u00a0Jack Holiday\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

2:23 Wincanton – 2m 4f Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase<\/h3>\n

\"TimWith so little to choose between\u00a0Boombawn\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Insurrection\u00a0<\/strong>on Chepstow form and off the same terms, this is tricky. Even more lightly-raced is\u00a0HANDSTANDS<\/strong>, who won on good ground first time out over hurdles.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It’s a nonsense that\u00a0Glynn<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Soul Icon\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

2:40 Aintree – 2m 5f Class 2 Grand Sefton Chase<\/h3>\n