A competitive field is set to line up for the 63rd Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm. One of the highlights of the season at the National Hunt track, we’ve given our in-house tipster Steve Chambers the task of trying to pick the 1-2-3 in what is always a cracking race run over 3m 1f 30y.
THE CHANGING MAN
(Brendan Powell/Joe Tizzard)
Winless in nearly two years, The Changing Man has been knocking on the door in chase races for a while now, but is yet to get his head in front. Second on his last start over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter back in March, Joe Tizzard’s raider is potentially well handicapped off a mark of 130. He will step out of the novice sphere for this race, but has shaped like there could be a decent pot in him, so is entitled to be a prominent figure in the betting, but will need a career best to land the prize.
LORD ACCORD
(Richie McLernon/Neil Mulholland)
Beaten two-and-a-half lengths in this race by Frodon back in 2022, Lord Accord is back for another crack at the Badger Beer and the Neil Mulholland-trained nine-year-old is a whopping 8lbs lower than the mark he finished runner-up off. Second off 136, he lines up off 128 on Saturday and showed when winning impressively at Sedgefield and Wincanton in the last two months that he appears to have recaptured some old form. a 5lbs rise for that recent win at Wincanton sees him face a tougher test, but he’s in form and has to be respected.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Punts – Best Bets for Aintree & Wincanton
It’s a cracking weekend of jumps action on ITV this weekend, and Matty Sutcliffe has studied the cards early to find some of the best prices on four selections across the cards. Published: 10.40am, Wednesday, November 6th (Odds correct at time of writing) 2:05 Aintree – Boylesports Choose Wisely Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130)…
Wed 06 Nov 2024MOFASA
(Harry Cobden/Paul Nicholls)
Paul Nicholls has been the dominant trainer for the last few decades in this race and the Ditcheat maestro has won the event a staggering 11 times, so anything he saddles has to be respected. Flying the flag for the Nicholls team this time around is Mofasa, who was last seen pulling up at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting in a smart novice chase. The eight-year-old has one win in five starts over fences, but looks like the staying handicap sphere is going to bring on improvement, however, the faster ground is what makes him interesting. Rated 130 for this contest, he looks one that could turn out to be better than that mark and from this yard he has to be given a huge chance.
THE FIELD
Anthony Honeyball’s Lord Baddesley is another that lines up having not got his head in front many times over fences, but could be one that is better than his current mark of 129. Remastered does come into the contest in excellent form as David Pipe’s veteran won at Wincanton a couple of weeks ago off a mark of 140, but the 11-year-old was given a 5lbs rise for that win, so this is going to be a tough ask in a better race. Forward Plan will be the second shot fired by the Honeyball gun and that contender was a winner two starts ago, while Dan Skelton’s Riskintheground ran well at Cheltenham a few weeks ago when finishing third, but needs more here. Gustavian, Al Dancer and The Big Breakaway complete the line-up and the latter pair of that triumvirate could have their best days behind them.
VERDICT
It’s a race that lacks the significant strength of depth of previous years, so it could just be wise to stick with Paul Nicholls, who has a sensational record in the contest and MOFASA looks one of those types that could improve in his second season over fences. Lord Accord has recaptured his best form, but he’s been hiked in the weights recently and that could stop his hat-trick of wins landing, while Remastered can stay on best of the rest to claim third.
2024 Badger Beer Handicap Chase Predicted 1-2-3
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.