Saturday’s ITV action comes from Aintree, which stages the Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle after Wincanton lost its meeting, and from Doncaster, where the November Handicap brings the curtain down on the turf Flat season.
Matty Sutcliffe, who has already picked out his five races to watch this week, selects five horses to keep an eye on.
13:15 Aintree – William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130)
It’s no surprise to see Kadastral in as the 11/8 favourite here, but I do think that’s short enough for this chase debut, given his two seasonal debuts have seen him finish second, albeit one of them was behind Sober Glory.
I’d be slightly worried about him needing this run, for all he looks obviously thrown in off 124, and it could pay to chance JAVERT ALLEN, who’s proven fresh and still has wiggle room off 124. He had a short-lived, albeit successful, hurdling career before making a successful chase debut from the front at Chepstow two years ago.
That was followed up by an equally impressive performance at Newbury, before he failed to handle softer going back at Chepstow. He reappeared in this race last season when a five-length fourth off a 3lb higher mark, and was probably unlucky to bump into some well-handicapped rivals, such as subsequent Wayward Lad winner Mambonumberfive, now 18lb higher, Highlands Legacy, now 16lb higher, and December Gold Cup winner Glengouly, now 14lb higher.
He ran a similar race in defeat next time out when a two-length second to Ryan’s Rocket, who’s now rated 10lb higher after comfortably winning the Grade 3 handicap chase at Aintree, with the third there also rated 8lb higher following his ten-length win when last seen.
Evidently, he bumped into some well-handicapped horses last season, and it could be that he’s much easier to keep right early in the season, given how his form dipped. There’ll be no qualms if Kadastral proves well handicapped too, but I’d be surprised if anything else can finish ahead of him if he returns to the form he showed in this race last season.
13:45 Aintree – William Hill Molyneux Hurdle (Grade 2) (Formerly Registered As The Elite Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
This looks like a fascinating match between three star two-milers from last season. Alexei shoulders a penalty and looks the one they have to beat following his form in the spring Grade 1s, but I’d be slightly concerned about how he progressed as the season developed and whether now is the right time to catch him.
Mydaddypaddy has every right to improve again this season and could easily make up into a Champion Hurdle horse, but I can’t quite believe MANGE TOUT isn’t closer in the betting to that pair, particularly given the weight she receives.
It’s intriguing that Gordon Elliott has sent her across, and she will have to improve, but her sole defeat last season came at the hands of Narcisco Has and Selma De Vary when she was keen enough on heavy going.
Mange Tout reversed the form with the latter over course and distance in game fashion, with the winner landing a Grade 1 prize at Auteuil next time out. A half-sister to Impaire Et Passe, she’s bred to come into herself with age, and despite having plenty to find on the official figures, she can prove up to the mark.
15:00 Aintree – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+)
PARK PRINCESS had some strong form in the book last season outside of losing a shoe at Warwick and failing to step up to the level in the Albert Bartlett, but it’s easy to see why connections thought she was good enough to contest the latter given her earlier form.
Her form read 121 earlier in the campaign, including a second in Listed company, then after being well beaten at Warwick, she bolted up by 21 lengths in Listed company at Doncaster. That didn’t appear to be a fluke, as the favourite in second came out and won by four lengths in Listed company next time out.
She finished the season beaten ten lengths in a Bangor novice, but she perhaps paid the price for setting the early gallop with the winner, who was well backed and thought good enough to contest a Grade 2 prior to that, though she jumped poorly on the whole.
Sam Twiston-Davies retains the ride, with his record reading 9111P on her, and if she’s strengthened up again this season, a mark of 132 might not be beyond her. It further bodes well that her record on seasonal debut reads 11.
15:25 Doncaster – Virgin Bet November Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo+)
I was at York when ALFRED WINCHAM bolted up by eight lengths and couldn’t quite believe what I’d seen.
He was a bumper winner for Anthony McCann in Ireland in May, before being purchased for £80,000 by new connections and making a winning debut in a Pontefract maiden, giving over a stone to Charlie Johnston’s Sea And Sun, now rated 78.
He was ridden by an inexperienced jockey next time out on his all-weather debut, finishing down the field, but bounced back to form to be beaten a length by the 15/8 favourite. That was a pleasing performance, having been worse off at the weights with some progressive three-year-olds, but the York effort was remarkable.
He travelled strongly towards the head of the field and eased his way into the lead still on the bridle, and once Oisin Orr gave him a tap, he readily drew clear to win, still firmly on the bridle.
While he has to improve again now he’s 13lb higher, I don’t think that was a fluke at all, and he’s bred to be talented, being a half-brother to the 115-rated Fanny Logan and hailing from the family of three-time Group 1 winner Hunters Light.
15:35 Aintree – Play Lucky Stable With William Hill Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145)
We’re playing with multiple factors here, one being whether HERCULE DU SEUIL has lost all ability, and two being, if he hasn’t, whether Saturday is ‘the’ day.
Since switching to Neil Mulholland, he’s failed to return to the form he was capable of showing for Willie Mullins, but a break and a mark of 139, with Harry Cobden on, may change things.
This time last year, he was rated 12lb higher and finished third in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase, two lengths behind stablemate and Mares’ Chase heroine Dinoblue, despite being 13lb worse off at the weights.
You’d only have to go back to May 2025 to find him in winning form, when taking a Grade 3 chase at Killarney and beating his 2/1 favourite stablemate Bloody Destiny.
His best form for Willie Mullins came either side of the main bulk of the National Hunt season, in the early autumn or late spring, and his form figures when fresh read 811114313.
He certainly has the back class to prove capable at this level, and at these odds, it’s worth finding out if he can be revitalised, particularly now he’s not shouldering top weight.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Five to Watch for Saturday 7 November
13:15 Aintree – William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130) – Javert Allen 9/2 1pt WIN
13:45 Aintree – William Hill Molyneux Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Mange Tout 6/1 1pt WIN
15:00 Aintree – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Park Princess 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
15:25 Doncaster – Virgin Bet November Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Alfred Wincham 5/1 1pt WIN
15:35 Aintree – Play Lucky Stable With William Hill Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) – Hercule Du Seuil 20/1 1pt EW 4 places
Mange ToutFAQs
When was Matthew Sutcliffe’s article published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s article was published at 9.10am on Friday 6 November.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GG’s newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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