Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald's best bets for ITV Racing

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11 November 2023

Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald's best bets for ITV Racing

Saturday’s Racing Tips

13:15 Wincanton – Enjoy Your Life
13:50 Wincanton – Knappers Hill
14:25 Wincanton – Sam Brown
14:45 Aintree – Gesskille
15:00 Wincanton – Rubaud
15:20 Aintree – Brewin’upastorm
15:32 Wincanton – Ilovethenightlife

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

It really feels like we are in full flow with the jumpers now and with so much rain about we are not guessing about horses handling better ground. Venetia Williams’ horses love the mud! Enjoy Your Life ran his best race since coming over from France when finishing second at this track to Oscars Moonshine who is now rated 19lbs higher in the ratings so faced a big ask that day. Enjoy Your Life was a big drifter when stepped up to 3m 1f after that but the return to 2m 4f should suit better and the stable has four winners from her last 6 starts so that will do for me.

Paul Nicholls’ charge Knappers Hill was runner up on seasonal debut and that should put him spot on for this Novice Chase. He jumped quite well at Chepstow on his return and should come forward from that. The consistent hurdler Captain Conby comes over from Ireland for Dusty Sheehy having won a beginners chase there and it’s great to see him back k in the bigger races. I rode a Grade 2 winner for him on Justified many years ago. I worry though that Captain Conby isn’t as effective on a right-handed track.

I am torn between two in the race so will split my stakes. Frodon is a superstar and a real crowd favourite . Paul Nicholls has targeted this race again with last year’s winner and Frodon had an ‘away day’ at Lambourn. It’s a concern though he’s saddled with top weight on very soft ground. For that reason I’ll have an interest on SamBrown for Anthony Honeyball. He will love the ground and looked likely to win at the Punchestown Festival last April before falling two out. He makes his seasonal debut but ran well 12 months ago in the Charlie Hall Chase so goes well fresh. It will not be ideal for Frodon if this turns into a real slog. Sam Brown looks the safest alternative.

It’s not the most original choice to select the likely favourite over the Grand National fences but there is no substitute for experience over them. Gesskille was second in this contest when beaten in a photo-finish and that’s an advantage. The ground is not a problem either. I can’t believe how well treated he is at the weights after last season and was expecting him to be much higher in the weights.

He is only 1lb higher than when finishing second in the Beecher Chase and 5lb higher than when runner-up in this contest last year. Nassalam looks the biggest danger for the Gary Moore yard. The stable’s runners usually need a run but this six-year-old loves the ground. He ran a lovely race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day last year behind Midnight River, and races off the same mark here. He’s the biggest danger.

A tricky five-runner Juvenile Hurdle over 2m where Rubaud is much better suited to this type of track. However the soft ground helps the opposition. Harry Cobden’s mount has had a run and that’s a massive plus. Hansard finished behind Rubaud at Kempton last season so has a little to find with him but even with the slight weight concession and ability to handle the ground it’s just not enough to sway me. Rubaud to confirm the form.

Olly Murphy’s runner Brewin’upastorm was unlucky last year when getting rid of his joskey at the first hurdle. He loves small fields so this three-runner race is perfect. West Balboa is not sure to appreciate the small field and she needs to switch off in her races and strike late. She may run too keenly and ruin her chance at the finish.

A mares’ handicap hurdle rounds off the coverage at Wincanton and Ilovethenightlife came good when winning the Mares’ final at Newbury last season. That was on soft ground and she coped with that very well. Lime Avenue has looked good at times but disappointed last season on very soft ground. She has had a wind operation but until she proves she handles testing conditions, the going underfoot is a concern.