It’s a bumper day’s racing on Saturday with the Charlie Hall Chase and Ladbrokes Champion Chase taking place at Wetherby and Down Royal. Our top tipster Andrew Mount previews all the action and picks out his best bets here….
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Posted: 2:33pm, Friday, November 1st
3.15 ASCOT – FIERCELY PROUD (2pt win – 9/2 generally)
FIERCELY PROUD tends to come to hand early, landing his first two starts in the 2022/23 season – a Market Rasen bumper for Don Cantillon and a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on his debut for Ben Pauling. He failed to progress in his two subsequent starts, albeit at big prices in Grade 1 and Grade 2 bumpers at Cheltenham/Aintree but returned to form with a wide-margin maiden hurdle victory at Hereford on last season’s reappearance. He followed up at Taunton to take his record on his first two starts each season to 1111 (4-4) after which he was highly tried again, placing in Grade 2 company at Doncaster and Kempton. He finished a creditable seventh of 20 at Sandown when making his handicap debut on the final day of the of season and looks worth a punt now running fresh on his seasonal debut.
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3.45 Ascot – HIGHSTAKEPLAYER (1pt win – 9/1 bet365, 8/1 generally)
When I looked at the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase for GG’s Weekend Watch video/podcast on Thursday I had expected to put either Chianti Classico and Two For Gold up as bets. The former is seven wins and a second from eight runs below Grade 2 level since his debut but has a lot of weight and that has often been a barrier to success in this race. Stablemate Two For Gold also has his share of weight and, as an 11-year-old, doesn’t fit the age profile of recent winners. Both could still run with credit but the one I want to bet is HIGHSTAKESPLAYER. Tom Lacey’s eight-year-old has form figures in handicaps of 3112111P1 (6-9), improving to 11111 (5-5) on right-handed tracks. He scored with something in hand at Kempton on his final start last term and, while his yard has been slow to get going, last week’s 25-1 victory for Nocte Volatus in these colours was a step in the right direction.
7.25 Southwell – KALAMUNDA (1.5pt win – 6/1 bet365)
KALAMUNDA did this column a favour when returned to this course and distance in early September, landing a gamble to make it three from three on synthetics. He followed up at Lingfield a week later despite not enjoying the sharper track and completed an autumn hat-trick with a narrow 17-2 victory at Kempton last month. A bigger field would have been preferable when he puts his 100% all-weather record on the line tonight but there looks to be sufficient early pace among his rivals and the step up from Class 4 to Class 2 level could help in that respect, as they’re like to go faster in this better race.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
3.15 ASCOT – FIERCELY PROUD (2pt win – 9/2 generally)
3.45 Ascot – HIGHSTAKEPLAYER (1pt win – 9/1 bet365, 8/1 generally)
7.25 Southwell – KALAMUNDA (1.5pt win – 6/1 bet365)
Andrew Mount’s tips for Saturday, 2nd November 2024.
Andrew Mount’s Myth Busters – Sedgefield Form Doesn’t Travel
I’ve heard the expression “Sedgefield form doesn’t travel” from racing pundits on numerous occasions (as recently as last week on William Hill radio) and I’ve often downgraded the chance of Sedgefield winners when they change venue for their next start. However, I’ve never dug into the stats in detail, and I want to use this…
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