There is high quality action in Britain, Ireland and America on Saturday as racing fans are treated to an entire afternoon and evening’s worth of thrills. GG tipster Joe Napier has focused on the domestic contests on the day for our lucky 15 selections.
1.15 Wetherby – NINTH LOCH (1pt e/w – 11/1 Coral/Paddy Power)
The progressive Lightning Flash is on a hat-trick, but this is a fair step up in class for him. Taken against him is the top-weight NINTH LOCH, as the six-year-old is overpriced if not averse for the move to Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero. He concluded last season in good form for Harry Derham, winning at Chepstow on good ground, his first experience of a quicker surface, then finishing a close second giving 7lb to Nicky Henderson’s Bective Abbey at Ffos Las. The third that day has won twice since, so the form has been fairly franked even with the winner having been beaten subsequently (had excuses). The selection has won after a layoff in France before, so can be ready to fire in this opening ITV event.
2.05 Ascot – ISSAR D’AIRY (1pt e/w – 10/1 William Hill/bet365)
Last season’s useful novice chaser L’Eau du Sud may prove harshly treated here and his and Boothill’s presence off high marks ensure ISSAR D’AIRY races off a featherweight of 10st 2lb here. He maybe 2lb out of the handicap, but that would still leave him just 3lb higher than when second in this a year ago having also arrived after a summer break. He was second to Martator that day, who proved himself extremely well-handicapped when winning again next time out, so the fact that Issar d’Airy pushed him to within two lengths reads even better in hindsight. Freddie Mitchell takes off a further 5lb and these conditions suit him better than any.
2.40 Down Royal – FOUND A FIFTY (1pt e/w – 11/2 generally)
The opening Grade 1 of the British and Irish jumps campaign can go to FOUND A FIFTY at a meeting his trainer Gordon Elliott relishes. The eight-year-old was a high class two-mile novice in 2023/24, winning two Grade 1s, while he also gave 7lb to subsequent two-time Grade 1 winner Solness over the minimum trip last November. However, as the season progressed, he looked in need of a trip, which he got when landing the Grade 2 Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase over 2m4f in April, giving 4lb to Willie Mullins’ Saint Sam. That is a very useful level of form, and came on ground that would have been plenty soft enough. On ability, he is the match of any of these, while he also boasts the highest official rating, so if he stays as expected, he can land open Grade 1 honours for the first time.
2.57 Wetherby – PIC D’ORHY (1pt e/w – 11/2 William Hill)
An open Charlie Hall can go to PIC D’ORHY, for whom 3m has long promised to be on his radar. The ten-year-old has arguably never been better than when winning the Grade 1 Ascot Chase by ten lengths over 2m5f back in February and only an early jumping blunder put paid to his chances in Sandown’s Grade 2 Oaksey Chase on jumps finals day. He is liable to a jumping howler, but those have become rarer as the years go by, while on recent evidence, he is the only genuine Grade 1 performer left in this field. He goes well fresh and can concede 6lb to Protektorat, who has needed his reappearance for the last two years, and Hewick, whose left-handed form is substantially weaker than that going right-handed.
GG Racing Lucky 15 Tips For Saturday 1st November
1.15 Wetherby – NINTH LOCH (1pt e/w – 11/1 Coral/Paddy Power)
2.05 Ascot – ISSAR D’AIRY (1pt e/w – 10/1 William Hill/bet365)