That includes the Kingwell Hurdle card at Wincanton (1:38pm-5:05pm) where reigning champ Goshen is back to defend his title against up-and-comer Adagio. Our tipster has a race-by-race preview of the action at the Somerset venue.
Reminder too that you can watch every race from the UK and Ireland this weekend via live streaming when logged into MansionBet.
1:38 – Matchbook Betting Exchange ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (1m7f)
An unusually slow start to the year means Paul Nicholls’ strike-rate at Wincanton is hovering just below 10 per-cent for 2022, compared to 28 per-cent and 29 per-cent in the previous two years.
That’s a trend that just won’t continue at the champion trainer’s local track and he can give it a nudge in the right direction with GRIVETANA in this opening event. The filly was impressive in bagging a 13-runner juvenile hurdle at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in December before switching from France to Ditcheat and should carry Bryony Frost home in front.
Selection: Grivetana @ SP
2:13 – Get 20 Risk Free On Matchbook Handicap Chase (2m4f)
He might be 12-years-old but nobody has told Native Robin and after wins here in his last two starts, he isn’t dismissed in haste for Jeremy Scott’s team. Dan Skelton’s Go Steady has won 5-11 over fences and has shown enough in three hurdles starts this season to merit consideration but his erstwhile stablemate ANTUNES showed renewed sparkle at this venue over hurdles recently on his first start after relocating to Milton Harris. He won twice over fences last season for his former trainer and finds himself 8lb below the most recent win-mark now. A double-figure price represents value.
Selection: Antunes @ SP
2:48 – Matchbook Betting Podcast Handicap Chase (3m1f)
Interesting to see if there’s any traction behind chasing debutant Johnny B in the market as he could go well, but last-time-out winners Max Dynamo and HEAVEY are solid options. The former was completing a double either side of a 241-day layoff and having celebrated his 12th birthday last month but perhaps the younger legs will win out for Neil Mulholland’s charge. His C&D win six weeks ago has stood up well and with his rider today claiming 7lb, he’s effectively 2lb lower this time.
Selection: Heavey @ SP
3:20 – Matchbook Betting Exchange Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2, 1m7f)
This surely develops into a match between last year’s winner GOSHEN and Adagio. The Gary Moore inmate roared back to form at Sandown a fortnight ago when beating some fair rivals by a wide margin. If he’s in the same mood here he will be tough to crack. David Pipe’s charge was a really smart 4YO last term – winning a Grade 1 and finishing second in two more – and began this season with a pleasing second in the Greatwood Hurdle in November. He’s holding an entry in next month’s Champion Hurdle – with the Pond House handler labelling this race a ‘stepping stone’ to that – and he’ll want to at least give Goshen something to chew on if that aspiration is not misplaced.
Selection: Goshen @ 4/5
3:58 – Matchbook Better Way To Bet Handicap Hurdle (2m5½f)
Handicap debutant Mr Glass could be another for the Nicholls/Frost alliance today. He was not disgraced behind Supreme Novices’ favourite Constitution Hill in the Grade 1 Tolworth last time and returning to this longer trip can only be a plus. MASTER DEBONAIR ran a cracker last month at Taunton – under Frost – and was only collared late. He’s 1lb higher now and taking on a longer trip and is likely to go well again.
Selection: Master Debonair @ SP
4:33 – Better Odds At Matchbook Handicap Chase (3m1f)
David Pipe’s El Paso Wood won well over slightly further here last month and followed that up with a good second over C&D last time, just getting nailed late on. He’s a player again now but ASK ME EARLY has more to come as a chaser. Harry Fry’s charge won all three completed starts over these obstacles last term and, following a wind op, has bagged a couple of novice hurdles at Exeter and Chepstow so far this season.
Selection: Ask Me Early @ SP
5:05 – Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle (2m5½f)
A devilish finale. Zyon won at Kempton eight days ago and a 4lb rise shouldn’t prevent another good effort if in the same mood. WILLIAM PHILO made a winning handicap bow at Fontwell in December over this sort of trip, improving seemingly for the step up in trip as he took plenty winding up before surging home best to win for Sam Twiston-Davies. He’s 6lb higher today but Bryan Carver offsets half of that and the 5YO is entitled to build on that win 74 days ago.
Selection: William Philo @ SP
*Odds correct at time of writing.