ITV Racing tips: Can Bigbadjohn blow the Badger Ales competition away?
Published:
It’s a big weekend of racing, with the final day of the Flat season at Doncaster and the Badger Ales Trophy among the live action on ITV.
Will Present Man follow up last year’s victory in this renewal with another win this time around? Or will a rival from further afield come out on top?
Before Ed Chamberlain and the gang arrive on your screen, we’ve had a glance through the racecard…
NAP – Bigbadjohn – 3:35 Wincanton
Bigbadjohn may be third in the betting for the Badger Ales trophy, but joint-favourites Present Man and El Bandit have been very lightly raced recently.
There’s no chance Bigbadjohn will be feeling rusty. He won on this track just last month in the Desert Orchid Chase.
Conditions should be similar to those in the Desert Orchid. There aren’t many front-runners among the field either. Both factors could favour the gelding and help Nigel Twiston-Davies taste Badger Ales glory for the first time since 1992.
NB – Verdana Blue – 3:00 Wincanton
Nicky Henderson has two entries in the Elite Hurdle, with Verdana Blue in red-hot form coming into this one.
If the rain stays away, the mare has a great chance to add another win to her collection. She’s recently held off Old Guard to enjoy Listed glory on the flat at Chelmsford and won the Novice Stakes at Chelmsford.
Lively Longshot – Now Children – 3:15 Doncaster
Now Children sat out the whole of 2017 after winning two of his three starts as a juvenile, but he’s well and truly back now.
The chestnut colt ran a superb race at Goodwood to win the Racehorse Owners Group Handicap last month. He navigated a rival falling over 3f out to take the lead and beat Wolf Country into second place.
With Wolf Country among the competition in the November Handicap, the Clive Cox-trained four-year-old will be looking for a repeat.
ITV Racing tips:
1:30 Doncaster – Maid to Remember
1:50 Wincanton – If You Say Run
2:05 Doncaster – Laugh A Minute
2:25 Wincanton – Secret Investor
2:40 Aintree – Romain De Senam
3:00 Wincanton – Verdana Blue (NB)
3:15 Doncaster – Now Children (Lively Longshot)
3:35 Wincanton – Bigbadjohn (NAP)
Click for the latest Horse Racing odds.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
