Today’s ITV4 races, by Chris Cook
As his jump racing colleagues pray that their horses are fit in time for some major races over the next few weeks, Jonjo O’Neill still has one eye on the Flat season, which ends with the November Handicap today at Doncaster. The shrewd Gloucestershire trainer appears to have a live runner at a big price in Minotaur (3.15), available at 33-1 as I type.
This six-year-old rose to be a Listed winner when based in France last year and looks on a beatable handicap mark in the right conditions. Things haven’t worked out for him in a couple of spins on the Flat over the last month, but his previous efforts over hurdles show that his ability has survived the Channel crossing.
A very testing surface and an extreme distance probably did for him at Pontefract last time. These conditions may be more suitable and first-time cheekpieces may help him get involved.
1.50 Wincanton With the Philip Hobbs team suddenly in flying form, Copper Kay is taken to bounce back from a poor fences debut last month. She looks reasonably treated on her novice form of last season and should be sharper for that reappearance run.
2.05 Doncaster At the age of 10, Maarek is not getting any better and his Group One success was four years ago but his last two efforts have been his best for ages and he gets his ground. It could be dangerous for the betting market to pass him over.
2.25 Wincanton A good handicap hurdler last term, Modus looks like making a fair chaser on the evidence of his Bangor run. He could be vulnerable to something with more pace but his two rivals here don’t pose an obvious threat.
2.40 Doncaster Previously unbeaten, Time Chaser found heavy going rather too much to cope with at Haydock last time. On what should hopefully prove a more standard surface, this sister to Time Test can get back on track.
3.00 Wincanton Having run above expectations to be fifth in a Group Three on the Flat last month, Flying Tiger is worth chancing against older rivals here. His defeat of Divin Bere at the Cheltenham Festival could be high-quality form and his stable has been among the winners.
3.35 Wincanton The locally based Paul Nicholls has been made to wait five years since his last success in the Badger Ales, which he had previously won seven times, and he probably needs no reminding that he’d have won it last year if Southfield Theatre had cleared the last. His Present Man was made favourite when betting opened but I prefer Mr Mix, who has made significant progress in his last three starts over fences. Nicholls’s grey, unbeaten in two races at Wincanton, is still only 5lb higher than when landing a hurdles race here on Boxing Day and is partnered by the promising young Harry Cobden.
Tips for all Saturday races
Doncaster 11.55 Any Little Rhyme 12.25 The British Lion 1.00 Boots And Spurs 1.35 Beach Bar 2.05 Maarek 2.40 Time Chaser 3.15 Minotaur 3.50 Gangland
Kelso 12.15 Flemens Story 12.50 Misfits 1.25 Scotswell 2.00 Dimple 2.35 Welcome Ben 3.10 Helmsley Lad 3.45 Rashee
Aintree 12.30 Delire D’Estruval 1.05 Coastal Tiep 1.40 Louis’ Vac Pouch (nap) 2.15 On Tour 2.50 Top Notch 3.25 Duke Of Navan 4.00 Welsby
Wincanton 12.40 If The Cap Fits 1.15 Play The Ace 1.50 Copper Kay 2.25 Modus 3.00 Flying Tiger 3.35 Mr Mix (nb) 4.10 The Russian Doyen
Wolverhampton 4.20 Zenovia 4.50 Nutini 5.20 Ocean Of Love 5.50 Point North 6.20 Global Exceed 6.50 Bumptious 7.20 Ocean Voyage 7.50 Doria Road
