Events / Graham Cunningham / 23 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Racing fans can enjoy the best of both worlds this weekend, with excellent Flat racing at Doncaster and Newbury and absorbing jumps action at Aintree and Chepstow. Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham pinpoints three key contests as well as casting his eye back to Carlisle on Thursday and forward to California for the Breeders' Cup.

"Monet’s Garden’s fine Liverpool record has to be set against the fact that he is rising 12 now, so my idea of the value angle here is to snap up the best early price about Tartak with a view to trading out to save the stake at around 2.5 in running."

The nights are drawing in and the economists report that Britain remains in the depths of recession.

What we need is the feel-good factor that backing a winner or two always inspires and, having delved through the best of some high-class Flat and jumping action, my Saturday plan revolves around three races.

Alan the star bet - but keep an close eye on Tartak and SNA, too

1: Racing Post Trophy (Doncaster 3.30)

Yes, I know this has a rich tradition of throwing up Derby winners and this renewal has drawn a posse of the main ante post fancies again.

But I don't want to wait until next June to collect. In truth, this isn't a race I will be going overboard about, but this is how I see it.

Coordinated Cut can win without my money on him. Granted, he was green here on his debut, but he's priced purely on reputation and this represents a huge hike in class.

Elusive Pimpernel is a gorgeous looker who will relish this step up to a mile, while Dancing David is open to bundles of improvement, but to my mind St Nicholas Abbey and Al Zir are the two to focus on.

St Nicholas Abbey is thriving on racing and looks made for this test based on his cosy Beresford Stakes win at the Curragh, while Al Zir has always struck me as potentially the pick of the Godolphin juveniles and fully deserves this tilt at Group 1 company.

It looks like they will go off at around 2-1 and 5-1 respectively, so a small bet on SNA with a saver on Al Zir looks the safe way to go.

2: Old Roan Chase (Aintree 2.15)

A clutch of old pals return to the jumping fray here, but whether they can all be trusted to peak first time is hard to say.

Tidal Bay tried my patience several times last spring and much depends on whether a breathing operation has helped over the summer, while Don't Push It has valuable course form but may well be more effective over three miles nowadays based on his win in a big handicap on Grand National day.

Monet's Garden's fine Liverpool record has to be set against the fact that he is rising 12 now, so my idea of the value angle here is to snap up the best early price about Tartak with a view to trading out to save the stake at around 2.5 in running.

Tom George's gelding thrived on racing over fences as a novice last season and signed off with an emphatic defeat of subsequent Grade 2 winner Deep Purple in the valuable Manifesto Novices' Chase over this course and distance in April.

He's the sort of bold, accurate jumper who always catches the eye of the inplay gang and, with the George team already in good nick, it all looks set fair for Tartak to give his followers plenty to cheer about.

3: Totepool Novices' Chase (Aintree 3.25)

Noble Alan looks nap material here for several reasons.

First, he was a very smart hurdler who showed that he relishes two miles on a sound surface by producing a fine turn of foot to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle off an official mark of 139 at Ayr last April.

Second, he took to fences at the first time of asking with a commanding defeat of Knockavilla and Thursday's Carlisle winner Description at Hexham recently.

Third, one of his main rivals - namely Five Dream - was unimpressive when winning at Fontwell on his chasing debut and will probably be priced more on his connections than what he achieved that day.

And fourth, Folk Tune has much more on his plate than at Towcester and Son Of Flicka may well need further than two miles.

In summary, Noble Alan looks the fastest horse in this field. He doesn't have a penalty for his Hexham win and having AP McCoy aboard is the cherry on top as he bids to take another step towards the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham next March.

Tags: Aintree, horseracing, horseracing betting, Monet's Garden