By Nick Robson
It is no secret that Paul Nicholls targets Wincanton’s Badger Beer Handicap Chase and the champion trainer can win it for a 12th time with Threeunderthrufive.
It is the 62nd year of sponsorship of the famous race and being a local, Nicholls loves nothing more than taking the prize back to his Ditcheat base in Somerset, as he did last year with Frodon.
There will not be a dry eye on the course if Frodon can repeat the trick under Bryony Frost but off the same mark and with another 12 months on his back, surely time will have caught up with him.
Threeunderthrufive has that touch of class needed to win this but also appeals as one on a fair mark.
He rattled off a four-timer as a novice chaser, including two Grade Twos, but struggled a little against the big boys last season, although he was not disgraced when fourth in the Scottish National when last seen.
While it may be because of the races he has run in, his record on a right-handed track is also much better than going left and having had a wind op too, he has plenty in his favour.
Nicholls will have high hopes Knappers Hill can go one better than on his chasing debut at Chepstow and while he will be much better suited by conditions in the Boodles ‘Rising Star’ Novices’ Chase, he lacks the scope to reach the heights he did over hurdles.
Instead it might be worth taking a chance on the potential of Doyen Star, trained by Evan Williams.
He has yet to taste defeat in a point-to-point and two novice hurdles and the fact the usually cautious Williams is letting him make his chasing debut in Grade Two company is telling.
Nicholls’ Rubaud should extend his winning run in the Jenningsbet Elite Hurdle.
Since finding the Betfair Hurdle a bit too hot, he has won the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, the Scottish Champion Hurdle and reappeared with a win at Kempton.
He likes decent ground and sharp tracks and, barring the obvious in Constitution Hill, could be one of the better two-mile hurdlers in the UK this season.
Lucinda Russell thinks the world of Giovinco, who unseated Derek Fox on his chasing debut at Carlisle when still going well.
He is out again relatively quickly in the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree and while it is far from a penalty kick, we will get a better idea of just how good the six-year-old is after this.
Imperial Merlin was well placed by John Quinn to win three of his five races last season and could still be well treated in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.
Many of his rivals are chasers having a prep run for bigger targets ahead and off a mark of 127, he has been leniently treated.
Russell should also be celebrating closer to home at Kelso with Cadell, who looks very promising ahead of the racingtv.com/freetrial Novices’ Hurdle.
He was doing his best work at the finish over two miles and five furlongs, so it is no surprise to see him move up in trip.
Another for the yard, De Legislator, makes his debut over fences in the Get Closer With A RacingTV Freetrial Novices’ Handicap Chase and also looks a likely winner.
Sense Of Duty must put a lacklustre effort behind her as she lines up at Newcastle in the Virgin Bet-sponsored Wentworth Stakes.
Connections hinted midweek if she shows here she is not the force of old, she will be heading to the paddocks after her slightly disappointing run at Ascot on Champions Day.
However, before her long lay-off she was a Group Three winner over this course and distance and she escapes a penalty in this Listed race.
Ed Bethell’s Chillingham is one of the few with a progressive profile in the Virgin Bet November Handicap.
Placed at Royal Ascot behind Vauban, he arrives here fresher than most and may well have been aimed at this for some time by his upwardly-mobile trainer.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 13.45 Cold Stare, Race 2: 14.15 Altmore, Race 3: 14.50 Bazball, Race 4:
15.30 Makeinmedoit, Race 5: 16.05 Sense Of Duty, Race 6: 16.40 Lion's House, Race 7: 17.15
Brewing, Race 8: 17.45 Chillingham.
KELSO: Race 1: 13.55 Cadell, Race 2: 14.30 Bollingerandkrug, Race 3: 15.05 Shoeshine Boy,
Race 4: 15.40 Return Fire, Race 5: 16.15 De Legislator, Race 6: 16.50 Eloi Du Puy, Race 7:
17.25 Joker Du Chenet, Race 8: 17.55 Al Kalila.
AINTREE: Race 1: 14.25 Josh The Boss, Race 2: 15.00 Giovinco, Race 3: 15.35 Imperial
Merlin, Race 4: 16.10 Real Stone, Race 5: 16.45 Gesskille, Race 6: 17.20 Brewin'upastorm,
Race 7: 17.50 Clap Of Thunder.
WINCANTON: Race 1: 14.40 Dancing In Brazil, Race 2: 15.15 Volkovka, Race 3: 15.50 Doyen
Star, Race 4: 16.25 THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE (NAP), Race 5: 17.00 Rubaud, Race 6: 17.32 Vicki
Vale, Race 7: 18.10 George Henry.
CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.00 Qatar Moon, Race 2: 19.30 Surging Tide, Race 3: 20.00 Poniros,
Race 4: 20.30 Blue Yonder, Race 5: 21.00 Different Tone, Race 6: 21.30 The Waiting Game,
Race 7: 22.00 Sunglasses, Race 8: 22.30 Tamaluk.
DOUBLE: Threeunderthrufive and Rubaud (Wincanton, Races 4 and 5).
For fields, betting and more information go to www.tab4racing.com