The baton is passed from Flat to Jumps on Saturday afternoon, as Doncaster’s lucrative Betfred November Handicap brings down the curtain on the campaign on the level, on the very same day that a bevvy of the National Hunt scene’s biggest names – both human and equine – pit their wits against one another in the depths of winter racing heartland at Wincanton.
Huge fences lie in wait for the 18 declared runners in the listed feature 3m 1f Badger Ales Handicap Chase (live on Channel 4 at 2.40pm), a contest in which plenty of respect should be afforded to in-form Neil Mulholland’s The Young Master.
Still only 34, Mulholland is absolutely flying in his relatively new role as a trainer, having ridden plenty of winners in his days as a popular jockey.
Expertly placed to win six of his last seven starts, The Young Master has been seen to good effect in all guises, scoring all over the place with flat, hurdles and chase wins all registered inside the last 12 months.
He also gets weight from the majority of his rivals here, but has to contend with last year’s one-two-three, as the trio return for another bite of the badger/cherry.
The 2013 winner Standing Ovation finds himself 11lbs higher than 12 months ago but arrives off the back of a good effort at Cheltenham in November, runner-up Alfie Spinner is just a pound higher but has a couple of lengths to find with Standing Ovation based on that aforementioned Cheltenham run, but the one to concentrate on could be Emma Lavelle’s Court By Surprise.
A nine-year-old Beneficial gelding, he was sent off just 5/1 for this test a year ago, but slipped on a bend early on and then stumbled badly three out, losing vital momentum as his challenge was being wound up.
Even then Court By Surprise was finishing fast and late, and from a seven pounds higher mark and at far bigger odds – 12/1 with William Hill – he can make amends.
He’s had a run to blow away the cobwebs, bolting up at Exeter last month in real style, and he looks a huge threat under Daryl Jacob.
Elsewhere on the card the Paul Nicholls-trained Southfield Theatre can highlight his RSA Chase claims by taking the Grade 2 Bathwick Tyres Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at 1.30pm.
A former winner at Wincanton over hurdles, he went down a nose to the outstanding Fingal Bay in the Pertemps at the Cheltenham Festival, before signing off his campaign with a hard fought victory against Nicky Henderson’s quality mare Polly Peachum at Sandown in April (she runs in the 2.05).
He opened his career over the larger obstacles with a bloodless success at Chepstow four Saturdays ago, and ought to have too much in the locker for Hollow Penny and Horizontal Speed.
Finally, Premier League pacesetters Chelsea ought to have too much quality to leave Anfield without three points safely in the bag in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Whereas hosts Liverpool are desperately missing their departed star man Luis Suarez, the visitors have a legion of stars to call upon, and it’s hard to envisage them not closing out two games in succession after conceding a late equaliser in their last domestic away game at Old Trafford.
Good luck!
Saturday’s best bets:
12.45 Premier League – Chelsea to win away at Liverpool – 13/10 (bet365, BetVictor, Coral or Paddy Power)
1.30 Wincanton – Bathwick Tyres Rising Stars Novices’ Chase – 2 Southfield Theatre (win)
2.40 Wincanton – Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase – 8 Court By Surprise (each way) @ 12/1 (William Hill)
