PLENTY OF EXCITING ACTION AHEAD FOR SATURDAY'S UK HORSE RACING

This Saturday marks the transition from flat racing to jumps action in the UK and we have graded and group action coming at us from all directions.
Old Roan Chase (Aintree)
This is a tricky one as virtually all but one of the field here are making a seasonal debut. I don’t think that Simli (who has been racing continuously since April) is a world-beater like some of the contenders here so that’s why we’ll likely have a bash on ALBERTAS RUN in the Old Roan Chase. Poquelin and Monet’s Garden have both had plenty of outings against Albertas Run and they have been there-or-thereabouts most times with Monet’s Garden actually scoring a victory over the Jonjo O’Neill-trained nine year-old last February at Ascot. Pairing up Albertas Run over Poquelin or Monet’s Garden on a forecast looks a profitable option.
Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Chepstow)
Paul Nicholls sends out his undefeated 4 year-old Novice on his first step up to Graded level as SILVINIACO CONTI could be the big story coming into this one. He’s expected to have to tussle with Captain Chris on the way home here and you reckon that Nicholls gelding gets the nod based on a successful seasonal debut at Bangor-on-Dee. He doesn’t even look like he’s been challenged all that much in his three outings but the same could be said for Captain Chris as well. Nicholls’ horse looks the value play here.
Racing Post Trophy (Doncaster)
This is one of the final Group 1 races of the UK flat season and we’ve got a full slate of talented two year-olds set to run at Doncaster at 2:55. Casamento (Shamardal) boasts a Group 2 score to his credit. That was a 1m effort at the Curragh and he seems to enjoy softer ground which should be what we see on Saturday. Both Casamento and Dunboyne Express (Shamardal) look like competitive runners but we’ll be siding with MASTER OF HOUNDS (Kingmambo) at an enticing 8/1 price. He finished second in a Curragh maiden to stable-mate Roderic O’Connor (Galileo), who then went on to finish second to the well-respected Frankel (Galileo) in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. That’s a great reference and we’re also looking at outsider Treasure Beach (Galileo) as a 33/1 each-way terror. He finished third to Frankel in the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in late September.
John Smith’s Extra Smooth Stakes (Newbury)
We’ve got another quality Group level clash for 2 year-olds in the 2:05 at Newbury and it’s a pretty big field so that should guarantee some quality prices. We’ll be siding with either KLAMMER (Exceed and Excel) or the Queen’s ROYAL EXCHANGE (Royal Applause) in this one. I like Klammer based on a solid second-place finish to Frankel in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. Royal Exchange looks an impressive sort but he’s had issues since trying to get off the listed circuit. He’s clearly better than most of the competition here and another ride from Ryan Moore could be just what the doctor ordered here after the pair put in a good shift last time.
John Smith’s Stakes (Newbury)
This is a tricky 1m4f contest and Godolphin seems to really want this one as they’ve got four entries lined up- all Saeed Bin Suroor-trained as well. Warhorse Halicarnassus (Cape Cross) steps up to have a go at this one but he just isn’t really offering up much trouble to anybody since he scored at 9/1 back in the early days of the Meydan meet. We’ll be siding with WHISPERING GALLERY (Daylami) here based on an extremely close 2nd place in his go at a Group 3 race. He seems a step or two above most of his stablemates and the rest of the field here as well.