The November Handicap is the big betting race at Doncaster on Saturday, while Aintree stages the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase on a busy jumps afternoon that also features Uttoxeter and Kelso before Southwell races into the evening.
Andrew Mount has horses to watch at both Doncaster and Aintree, with five in all to follow.
1.15 Aintree – Kadastral (1pt win – 13/8 Coral, Ladbrokes, Hills) & Cossack Chach (0.5pt e/w 40/1 Coral, Ladbrokes)
This 2m handicap chase rarely goes to a horse with two of more previous chase wins to its name and that rules out the majority of today’s line-up. Dan Skelton’s chase debutant Kadastral is the obvious pick, having recorded form figures over this sort of trip of 21212 (2-5) with the first runner-up effort on his racecourse debut and the other pair behind the now 153-rated Sober Glory. His mark of 125 looks exploitable and his trainer does well with chase newcomers who are pitched straight into handicap company.
I also want to have a small each-way bet on Cossack Chach who ran with credit on his debut for the Russell/Scudamore yard when a 30-1 third of seven over 1m7.5f at Hexham in June. The step up to 2m4f on soft ground didn’t suit at Perth last time and this sometimes-keen sort will appreciate the likely strong gallop.
3.00 Aintree – French Ship (1pt e/w – 13/2 Hills, BetVictor, 6/1 generally) & Lihyan (0.5pt e/w – 14/1 bet365, 12/1 generally)
French Ship has a good record at this time of year, recording form figures in October/November of 214U11 (3-6) for a profit of £6.85 to a £1 level stake at SP. Long travellers have done well it his Pertemps qualifier and the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White -trained six-year-old will be difficult to keep out of the frame.
Lihyan has yet to win above Class 3 level, but he finished third to Haiti Couleurs in a Class 2 Pertemps Qualifier at Newbury at this time last year and he only went down by half a length in second place when a 16-1 second in a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last December. His three runs over course and distance produced a pair of third places and a 50-1 seventh of 22 in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle (Class 1) and Rebecca Menzies does well with her handicap hurdlers in November/December once they’re race fit, as this one is after runs at Hexham and Cheltenham last month, showing more when mid-division latest.
3.25 Doncaster – Stressfree (0.5pt e/w – 18/1 generally)
Stressfree has shortened up since I recommended him as an each-way play on GG’s Weekend Watch on Thursday but is still worth a small interest at current odds. David O’Meara’s six-year-old has a good record at this track, running well in this race in each of the past two seasons, and caught the eye when fifth from off the pace at Chester last time, earning a sectional upgrade from Proform.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
1.15 Aintree – Kadastral (1pt win – 13/8 Coral, Ladbrokes, Hills) & Cossack Chach (0.5pt e/w 40/1 Coral, Ladbrokes)
3.00 Aintree – French Ship (1pt e/w – 13/2 Hills, BetVictor, 6/1 generally) & Lihyan (0.5pt e/w – 14/1 bet365, 12/1 generally)
3.25 Doncaster – Stressfree (0.5pt e/w – 18/1 generally)
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
Which racecourses run on Saturday 7 November? Aintree, Doncaster, Uttoxeter, Kelso, Wincanton & Southwell.
Who is Andrew Mount? Andrew Mount is a professional tipster with over a decade of experience following UK and Irish racing. He combines form study, market moves and trainer intelligence to identify value bets each day, and shares his tips daily on X as @TrendHorses.
When was today’s article published? Today’s article was published at 4.12pm on Friday 6 November.