Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, November 20
Henry De Bromhead strives to continue his domination of British National Hunt racing on Saturday as A Plus Tard bids to add the Betfair Chase to his trainer’s mighty haul this year.
Not content with sweeping the board at the Cheltenham Festival with victories in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup, the Irish trainer then saddled an historic one-two in the Grand National courtesy of Minella Times and Balko Des Flos.
Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard seems a perfect candidate for the classiest chase run in Britain since March and it is understandable why the bookmakers are keen to keep the gelding onside.
Sportsmail’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Saturday’s meetings
However, this is very much the start of the road for A Plus Tard, who has finished runner-up on all three of his seasonal debuts, and it could be worth recalling that Gold Cup winner and stablemate Minella Indo was beaten on his comeback at Down Royal recently.
With that in mind, it could be worth opposing the ante-post favourite with track specialist BRISTOL DE MAI (Haydock, 3.0) for whom today’s feature is the primary objective rather than a stepping stone.
The galloping grey bids to join the greats with a fourth Betfair Chase win this afternoon, a feat managed by the imperious Kauto Star.
Beaten just once in five outings at Haydock — a defeat in this race two years ago — Bristol De Mai also boasts a terrific record fresh, winnings after breaks of 212, 226 and 253 days.
Some have questioned whether the drying ground at Haydock will enable him to operate at full capacity, but trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies believes the track rather than the ground is essential to the fortunes of his 10-year-old.
This year’s renewal is blessed with depth and no little quality, with Next Destination, targeted specifically at Haydock since returning to training in the summer.
Paul Nicholls made this race his own for several years courtesy of Kauto Star and Silviniaco Conti and his talented, if fragile, nine-year-old won’t lack for fitness, having impressed in a recent racecourse gallop.
Connections add the cheekpieces for the first time, which looks a smart move for a horse that can race lazily.
n Dan Skelton celebrated his 1,000th win as a trainer yesterday as Faivoir triumphed in the Windsor Horse Rangers Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Ascot.
Elsewhere, there was another big-race success for eight-year-old Lord Glitters, who came from last to first under Jason Watson to lift the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy for trainer David O’Meara.
ASCOT
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
12.20 Jazz King
12.55 Jeremy Pass
1.30 Emmpressive Lady
2.05 Master Tommytucker
2.40 Buzz
3.15 Sky Pirate
3.50 Dream In The Park
GIMCRACK
12.20 Jazz King
12.55 Jeremy Pass
1.30 Martha Brae
2.05 Dashel Drasher
2.40 Buzz
3.15 Before Midnight
3.50 Thames Water
HAYDOCK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
12.10 Sonigino
12.40 Defuture Is Bright (nap)
1.15 Tommy’s Oscar
1.50 Bravemansgame
2.25 Brinkley
3.00 Bristol De Mai
3.35 Empire Steel
GIMCRACK
12.10 Barrichello
12.40 Speak Of The Devil
1.15 Navajo Pass
1.50 Bravemansgame
2.25 Didtheyleaveuoutto
3.00 Imperial Aura
3.35 Empire Steel
Northerner – 12.40 Chef D’Oeuvre (nb); 3.35 Joke Dancer (nap).
LINGFIELD
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
11.35 Noble Peace
12.05 Peripeteia
12.35 Lady Rockstar
1.10 Documenting
1.45 Copinet
2.20 Amirat Alward
2.55 Tahonta
3.30 Nibras Shadow
GIMCRACK
11.35 One Last Dance
12.05 Peripeteia (nb)
12.35 Lady Rockstar
1.10 Spycatcher (nap)
1.45 Enduring
2.20 Amirat Alward
2.55 Tahonta
3.30 Maahi Ve
Newmarket – 12.05 Peripeteia (nb); 12.35 Piselli Molli (nap).
WOLVERHAMPTON
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
4.30 End Zone
5.00 Silk Tie
5.30 Wizard D’Amour (nb)
6.00 Symbol Of Light
6.30 Asean Legend
7.00 Potenza
7.30 Gowanlad
8.00 Jungle Run
GIMCRACK
4.30 End Zone
5.00 He’s Our Star
5.30 Billy Mill
6.00 Symbol Of Light
6.30 Yantarni
7.00 Potenza
7.30 Good Earth
8.00 Jungle Run
HUNTINGDOWN
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
12.15 Graystone
12.48 Barbados Blue
1.23 Pass Me By
1.58 Getaway Luv
2.33 Luckofthedraw
3.08 Oscar Clouds
3.43 Robiola
GIMCRACK
12.15 Graystone
12.48 Barbados Blue
1.23 Pass Me By
1.58 Geromino
2.33 Heart Of A Lion
3.08 Dynali
3.43 Abingworth