Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I look at some of the best of Saturday’s action at Wetherby.
There’s a veritable feast of top class racing this weekend. I don’t think it gets much better than today with 19 races live on ITV4.
On Saturday the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase (3.00) is the feature race of a seven race card at Wetherby.
Yesterday’s Wetherby card was cancelled due to parts of the track being waterlogged. It was dry and sunny there on Friday lunchtime so fingers crossed they should be able to race on Saturday.
There’s also a strong Ascot card on Saturday featuring two Premier Handicaps with £56,950 on offer to the winner. I have plenty of selections on the Ascot which have been emailed to Victor Value subscribers. If you want those and the rest of my previews and selections for November you can get them for a one off £10 here.
ITV Racing are covering five races live from Wetherby and another five from Ascot this afternoon.
Wetherby
1:50 – Mares' Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m
Dan Skelton has won this race for the last two seasons, and he’s got a good chance of the hat trick with Kateira. The mare ended last season with a 3 ½ length 2nd of 14 against the boys in the Grade Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2m 4f) at Aintree. Back to 2m but if she’s ready fitness wise can win this.
2:25 – bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) – 3m
The likeable Dashel Drasher finished a ¾ length runner-up in the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The 10-year-old likes soft ground and won first time up last season. The one to beat on official ratings.
Thyme Hill has a good record fresh and finished runner-up the 2022 Stayer Hurdle. Yard in great form 5-15 in the past 14-days.
Botox Has is another who goes well fresh and is well suited 3m and soft ground. Can’t be dismissed but yard is struggling for winners (0-18 in the past 14 days).
Red Risk goes well off a layoff and is effective on testing ground. Stamina for 3m is unproven but if he stays has a chance.
3:00 – bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) – 3m
Just the four line up for the Wetherby feature.
Ahoy Senor could well get uncontested lead which he didn't last year. Last year's winner Bravemansgame and Irish Challenger Gentlemansgame will sit just behind the leader with Midnight River being in the rear of the four. Although Ahoy Senor has drifted out to a value price. I still think this is Bravemansgame's will beat him today.
Gentlemansgame gets 6lb from Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor and if he was to cause a bit of a surprise would have to be considered a Gold Cup contender. I'm more interested in him than Ahoy Senor but I would be hoping he drift out a bit from his presents odds of 4/1.
Breeders' Cup – Day 2
The attention switches across the Atlantic on Saturday evening to Day 2 of the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. Sunny weather, fast turf and great horses. What’s not to like?
The highlights of a Steller card are Inspiral taking on Warm Heart in the Filly & Mare Turf (7.10).
In the Mile (8:30) 1,000 Guineas heroine Mawj takes on 13 rivals including top Japanese mile mare Songline.
The Turf (9:50) see’s Auguste Rodin takes on the likes of Mostahdaf, King Of Steel, Onesto and top American colt Up To The Mark who won a Grade 1 over a mile last time and takes a big step up in trip here. It’s one of the best renewals of the race that I can remember and one to really get excited about.
Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream would be a fairytale winner for his small Epsom yard in the Turf sprint (11:20). You can see all this evening’s nice Championship races races live on ITV tonight. It's sure to be a great evening of action.
Saturday Selection:
Today's selection is from the last race on the Breeders' Cup card the Breeders' Cup Dirt Sprint.
Santa Anita
11:59 – Dr. Schivel finished a nose runner-up in this race at Del Mar two years ago. Only had one start last year when third in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan. The 5-year-old has been back to his best this year winning two of his four starts both over C&D, the latest of them coming 35 days ago. Has got a handy low draw for a prominent racer in a contest which looks light on speed. He’s my idea of the bet of the evening. Back him at 6/1 or bigger.
Dr. Schivel – 13/2 @ Bet365.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John