The Unibet Elite Hurdle takes place on Saturday where a smart and select field is anticipated to line up. Our experts have produced a runner-by-runner guide to one of Saturday’s feature contests at Wincanton. Feature offer for Sky Bet up to £20 in Free Bets
Unibet Elite Hurdle (3:35 Wincanton, Saturday 6th November 2021, 1m 7f)
GOSHEN 5/2
A true Enigma of the National Hunt sphere, Goshen will look once again to prove that he is one of the best two-mile hurdlers in training. The often complicated five-year-old has held a high rank in some of the top 2mile hurdle races in recent seasons. However, Goshen has often left a burning hole in many punter’s pockets after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in the 2020 JCB Triumph hurdle, and more recently when hanging badly right in last season’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, won by the impressive mare Honeysuckle.
Goshen does however have a fine record when running fresh off a break and maybe that is the best time to catch him before being campaigned for another tilt at the Champion Hurdle. There is no doubt that the in-form Gary Moore’s charge possesses enough ability to win this contest, but with the likely sound surface and the lingering question mark regarding his attitude and willingness to win, will surely leave punters with another tough decision if this will be his day or not.
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SCEAU ROYAL 5/4
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede’s famous green silks have been carried to victories by many flag bearers in seasons gone by, but how many of them come as reliable and ultra-consistent as Sceau Royal? A natural over both fences and hurdles the nine-year-old has been an incredible servant to Alan King at Barbury Castle. A winner of 15 races (9 coming over hurdles), Sceau Royal will be looking to become the first horse on Saturday to win the Elite Hurdle for a remarkable third time after comfortably seeing off Teqany by 7.5l in last seasons renewal.
Last time out Alan King’s nine-year-old readily brushed aside Silver Streak to win a Listed Hurdle at Kempton by 3.5l, jumping slickly before being ridden clear to a comfortable success. Regular jockey Daryl Jacob will also be looking to win this event for a record fifth time. Connections of Sceau Royal will be looking to all create a piece of history on Saturday and with many doubts surrounding the opposition, and the hat trick of wins in this event beckons.
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BELFAST BANTER 8/1
Last year’s surprise Cheltenham County Hurdle winner and Grade 1 Aintree winner Belfast Banter will be looking to take the prize back to Ireland for trainer Peter Fahey. After a below-par run in the Galway hurdle, Belfast Banter reappeared but took a crashing fall in Handicap company at Listowel at the end of September. The six-year-old however would not be without a chance if rekindling his previous form and if held up in his usual manner, he may be threatening and looking to challenge turning for home.
One of two likely entries for Ireland, Belfast Banter will be aiming to become the first Irish-trained winner of the race. However, with a couple of suspect efforts recently and Peter Fahey’s stable being in poor form (0-12 in the last 14 days), it’s best to focus elsewhere.
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SOLE PRETENDER 8/1
The second trained Irish representative could come in the form of Sole Pretender for Norman Lee. A winner of Grade 3 contest two starts ago, the seven-year-old bay gelding could only manage to finish eighth behind the Willie Mullins trained Saldier in the Galway Hurdle back in July. Holding a preliminary entry at Aintree as well on Saturday, the ground will be a key factor on which track he lines up at, as he has been exclusively kept to sounder racing conditions than testing winter ground. Despite the two entries, Sole pretender still has work to do in order to trouble the main protagonists.
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CHRISTOPHER WOOD 6/1
Paul Nicholls always has a strong team assembled for this feature race day at Wincanton and he will be hoping Christopher Wood can emulate the likes of Irving (2015), Zarkandar (2012), and Celestial Halo (2011 & 2009) in winning this contest. Connections will have been disappointed with the labored Chasing debut produced when beaten at short odds up at Sedgefield back in May. That disappointing run has led Christopher Wood back to hurdling in an attempt to get his form and career back on track.
Last seen visiting the winner’s enclosure at Musselburgh in a Class 2 contest in February, Christopher Wood was nursed home by young claimer Angus Cheleda that day to win by 3.25l. Despite winning the race seven times Paul Nicholls’ horse looks an inferior opponent to the likes of Sceau Royal and Goshen and minor money may be all he can hope for.
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HATCHER 20/1
Dan Skelton has sent out 31 winners so far this campaign and his horses are just starting to show signs that they are finally coming into form with the yard operating at a 16% strike rate in the last two weeks. In recent seasons Hatcher has plied his trade over fences but the angle to move him back to the smaller obstacles on Saturday looks an interesting move considering he has not raced over them since 2018. Hatcher is currently rated 142 over hurdles, a long way behind the marks of the main contenders, and despite the switch back to hurdles will have to put up a career-best performance if he is to regain the winning thread in this contest.
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PETRASTAR 50/1
Looked good when winning his first hurdle start in March 2020 when landing a Huntingdon Novice race. However, Petrastar found the rise in grade too much to handle when soundly beaten on his next two starts in Class 2 contests at both Chepstow and Cheltenham, both by a combined aggregate of 105l. This will be the most competitive race that the six-year-old will have contested and it is difficult to see Petrastar landing any significant blow.
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TEQANY 10/1
Beaten fair and square by Sceau Royal in this race 12 months ago, Teqany will have hopes of trying to reverse that form and give trainer Fergal O’Brien a first win in this race. Since last year’s defeat, Teqany has put up some respectable efforts on the flat winning twice. A third at Haydock back over hurdles in September soon followed before meeting his old rival again in the Listed Hurdle at Kempton back in October and ultimately finishing third beaten five lengths despite receiving 6lbs from the market principals on that occasion.
Teqany will have to brush up his jumping to play a leading role here and turn the tables on last year’s winner, but if doing so, Paddy Brennan’s mount is not entirely dismissed.
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BIG RACE VERDICT
An intriguing match-up looks likely between market rivals Goshen and Sceau Royal. Many eyes will be on Goshen in the preliminaries and on track but it is hard to get away from the obvious claims of SCEAU ROYAL. With question marks surrounding the majority of the other runners in some shape or form, the nine-year-old has no such issues to contend with and can win the race for a record third time in five years. Of the remainder, Teqany looks the likeliest to follow the selection home.
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