Saturday Lucky 15: Best Bets from the ITV Action

Moving into November, the National Hunt season begins to find full stride as the flat campaign heads deep inside the final furlong. This weekend, the ITV crew serves up a feast of entertainment from both codes.

Doncaster sets the stage for the last big day on the level with the excellent card featuring a pair of cracking Listed events and the huge betting heat of the November Handicap. Jumps fans are also well catered for, with the Badger Beers Handicap Chase from Wincanton and Aintree’s Grand Seftton Steeplechase standing out on a packed menu.

With eleven races from which to select, here using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out four best selections to combine in an each-way Lucky 15.

Saturday: Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase - Aintree, 2:40

We kick things off in the biggest spectacle of the day as Aintree gives us our first glimpse of the most famous fences in the world. Thirteen set out in pursuit of glory in the Grand Sefton Chase as the wraps come off the likes of Becher’s Brook, The Chair, and Valentines. At 2m5f, this race isn’t quite the same test as the Grand National, but many of the contenders will have the April showpiece as the ultimate goal.

Any runner with a proven ability to handle these unique obstacles is always worth a second look in the market. As such, it is no surprise to see 2022 Foxhunters winner Latenightpass towards the head of the market. Boasting form figures of 3323 over these fences, Laura Morgan’s Percussion is a solid each-way option. However, he’s only 7lbs lower than when beaten by 16½l in the Becher and makes only limited appeal at around 7/1.

The consistent Outlaw Pete makes our shortlist for Paul Nicholls, but the one to carry our cash is the recent recruit to the Dan Skelton operation, Harper’s Brook. One of the most enigmatic performers in training, this eight-year-old has a frustrating habit of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory. However, he has hit the frame in three of six chase starts at around this trip and is now 1lb below his career-high rating. Perfectly at home on soft ground, his smooth travelling style should see him in contention in the straight. It will then be a matter of whether he maintains his concentration, but with possible improvement following a wind-op, he has the talent to go close.

• Recommended Bet - Harper’s Brook each way @ 14/1 with BetGoodwin

Saturday: Virgin Bet Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes - Doncaster, 3:10

The John & Thady Gosden-trained Danielle heads the betting in this Listed contest and looks rock solid to go well on her favoured soft ground - only fading close home over 1m4f last time out, this drop back to 1m2f may be in her favour. It's hard to knock her form claims but taking 9/4 about a filly who has won only one of seven career starts makes limited appeal.

Charlie Appleby’s Diamond Rain comes next in the market and boasts every chance if bouncing back to the form of her Listed win at Newbury back in May. However, she has been off since running a shocker in the Ribblesdale Stakes and looks short enough in the betting.

The one we like best here is the Royal runner, Treasure. Ralph Beckett has claimed two of the past four editions of this and looks to have another likely sort on his hands in this daughter of Mastercraftsman. Kicking off with an easy Maiden win at Nottingham and a fine third in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, she then lost the plot in the Oaks and a hot handicap at Ascot. However, her effort on her recent return at Nottingham was more like it; staying on powerfully to go down by just a neck in that good to soft 1m2f contest, she should strip fitter here, and her debut success suggests she handles soft ground well.

• Recommended Bet - Treasure each way @ 7/1 with BetGoodwin

Saturday: 63rd Badger Beer Handicap Chase - Wincanton, 3:30

Next up, the biggest handicap of the season at the Somerset track of Wincanton. With many of these making their seasonal return, the Neil Mulholland-trained Lord Accord makes obvious appeal, having won twice already this season. Comfortable at this track, he’s hard to rule out but has risen 11lbs in the handicap, and this is his toughest test of the season to date.

David Pipe’s back to form Remastered and the potentially well-handicapped Gustaivan from the yard of Anthony Honeyball appeal most of those at bigger prices but we see this going the same way it has so often in the past.

With eleven previous wins in the race, Paul Nicholls is comfortably the most successful trainer in the history of the race. Mofasa carries the hopes of the Ditcheat yard in 2024, and we like his chances of going close. His form tailed off following a respiratory issue last season but he has plenty of time to get over that following wind surgery and tends to post his best displays early in the campaign. This time last year, he landed a Huntingdon Handicap in smooth style and he gets in off the same rating here.

• Recommended Bet - Mofase each way @ 7/2 with BetGoodwin

Saturday: Virgin Bet November Handicap - Doncaster, 3:45

We conclude in the trickiest handicap puzzle of the day as 23 go to post in this 1m4f affair. Ralph Beckett’s Valvano boasts the type of unexposed profile so appealing in events such as this. He could easily be well in off a mark of 97 but didn’t look to be crying out for a step up in trip when fading late on over 1m2½f last time out.

1m6f winner Master Builder may come into contention if this turns into a slog whilst Miller Spirit is flying at present and heads into the race seeking a four-timer. Both make the shortlist but we just prefer a contender from further down the betting list.

The one to catch our eye here is the Michael Bell-trained five-year-old Adjuvant. His most recent wins have come over 1m6f, but his form suggests he is just as effective over this trip. In two outings over 1m4f, he has won off a mark of 83 at Newmarket and finished and gone down 4¾l off 88 at Goodwood despite suffering significant trouble in running. He races off 92 here but looks on a feasible mark when we factor in the 3lb claim of rider Wayne Hassett. Last sighted finishing a promising fourth at Goodwood in May, he has enjoyed a lighter campaign than most and is appealingly priced to at least hit the frame.

• Recommended Bet - Adjuvant each way @ 25/1 with BetGoodwin

A 50p each way Lucky 15 returns £11,914.37 with BetGoodwin if all four runners win or £153.72 if they finish in the placed positions.