-
Henderson hurdler poised to strike at Aintree
-
Montassib to get back on track dropped in grade
-
Unexposed Haggas handicapper can land flat season finale
Racing... Only Bettor. Listen to the latest episode now.
There's a bit of something for everyone on ITV on Saturday, with the final flat turf meeting of the season taking place at Doncaster, while we also have jumps action from Aintree and Wincanton.
With relatively small fields and some short-priced favourites on show at Wincanton, that meeting makes only limited appeal from a betting perspective, but I am interested in one up north at Aintree.
Nicky Henderson is starting to kick into gear now that the new season is under way and I'm taking his useful hurdler Impose Toi to defy top weight in this handicap.
Still relatively lightly raced, Impose Toi produced a career best when last season at Punchestown in May, finishing runner-up to Hey Sunshine. Given his trainer, there should be no issue with his fitness as he returns following a six-month break.
The selection does need to prove his stamina for 3m upped to that trip for the first time, but at a course that places the emphasis on speed more than most, I don't have too many concerns in that regard.
Back Impose Toi in 12:55 Aintree
Having put up Montassib for the Champions Sprint at Ascot last month, I have to confess to being a little bit disappointed with his seventh-place finish there. However, the drying ground wouldn't necessarily have been in his favour that day and I'm fully expecting him to get back on track in this 6f listed contest.
The William Haggas-trained sprinter won three of his five starts in 2024, including the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock and he's a cut above this level granted the correct conditions. He'd shaped as if as good as ever on his return at Newbury in September, simply run off his feet early on over an inadequate 5f before finishing with a rare rattle to grab third place in that Group 3 contest.
With the ground officially soft at Doncaster at the time of writing, everything look set for a big effort from Montassib and he's a confident pick with James Doyle in the saddle.
Back Montassib in 13:25 Doncaster
On what could be a good day for the Haggas stable, I'm hopeful that Castle Cove can land the November Handicap as the curtain comes down on the flat season. The four-year-old son of Camelot is still unexposed and he's shaped well in several good handicaps since winning on his return at Chester in June.
He was stepped up markedly in trip at Newbury last time (from 1m 2f to 1m 5f) and wasn't seen to anything like best effect, eventually sticking on for fourth having been set a difficult task from the rear half of the field.
What that did prove is that Castle Cove has plenty of stamina and he won't be inconvenienced by this 1m 4f trip in testing conditions. To further increase confidence, Just one place ahead of him that day was Beylerbeyi, who franked the form in no uncertain terms when winning the Cesarewitch on his next start.
Back Castle Cove in 15:45 Doncaster