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Saturday November 7th

This weekend is probably the weakest card in terms of jumps quality we will see throughout the month of November but there are still a couple of nice betting opportunities and plenty of horses that are worth a watching brief. Before we get on to today's action, I was mightily impressed by a couple of horses in the last week. Allmankind was immaculate on his chasing debut yesterday. Personally, I haven't seen a novice jump as good as that ever first time of asking (perhaps with the notable exception of Footpad). He would make an Arkle a very demanding test of quick and accurate jumping with his free-going style and while it is very early to think how a race will pan out, it is important to bear in mind when looking at possible Arkle candidates. Certainly, they would not want to have any doubts in that department. I was perhaps even more taken by Nicky Henderson's Dusart who beat a descent sort in Soaring Glory on his racecourse debut at Newbury. It is a course that Nicky likes to start a lot of his top novices at and he could be very interesting going forward. Soaring Glory had good form coming in to it, franked by Bravemansgame and I thought Dusart disposed of him pretty easily. He is certainly one to keep an eye on. 

Moving onto today, I think Danny Whizzbang is a standout bet at Kelso for the red-hot Paul Nicholls stable in a race he has absolutely farmed (won the last three renewals). The case for Danny Whizzbang is simple. He is surely much better than his current mark based on his performances last season. On the face of it, they may not read that well but the term "shaped better than the result" is an understatement on his last two efforts. In fact, you could argue he travelled like the best horse in the race in both the Feltham at Kempton and the Reynoldstown at Ascot. On his chasing debut last season he won a Grade 2 at Newbury and that is a fair indication of  both the ability the horse has and the faith his top trainer has in him. The reason that run is so interesting is because it gives some real substance to his unbeaten record fresh out of 3 attempts. He has been supported for the Ladbrokes Trophy in recent days but I have a feeling today might be his day with the stable having the antepost favourite and Gold Cup contender Topofthegame for that contest. 

Over at Doncaster, I can't resist one last flat investment on a horse who I will also be following when he goes hurdling in the coming weeks, On To Victory. He has been slightly unlucky on his last couple of starts and can race off the same mark as last time. He only made his seasonal reappearance in August so he should be able to give his running, which can be a worry for some at the end of a long season. I think he has solid credentials and will be very hard to keep out of the frame. He may find one too good yet again but he remains 12lb lower than his highest mark and Alan King has had a great season in the staying races on the flat. 


2pts win Danny Whizzbang (4/1 General) Wincanton 3.35 *use BOG firms

0.5pt eway On To victory (11/1 Unibet, 10/1 General) Doncaster 3.15 *use firms paying 6 places, BOG firms





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