by ITV racing from Aintree and Wincanton takes place on Sunday and our form expert has a few tips for the action.
Torn looks best on Sundays
A bonus ITV1 card on Sunday with the Virgin Bet Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree taking center stage.
It must be said that the result was disappointing and that this five-runner field will do well to build on the memories of previous renewals, while the presence of Ahoy Senor pushes a few rivals out of the spotlight.
It’s been six years since Paul Nicholls last won this race but this time he looks to have an excellent chance with Stage Star, who is doing well and coming here after wind surgery.
However, he looks more like a Cheltenham horse than an Aintree horse and I would rather try out some of the side races on ITV.
The best bet of the day seems to be Torn and frayed in the Virgin Bet Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans’ Handicap Chase in the race to the Old Roan at Aintree.
Copperhead is the one to take a hit here, but this is his toughest task in recent memory, winning another 5lb in better company, and Torn And Frayed may be too handicapped to be turned down.
The handicapper has turned Nigel Twiston-Davies around by dropping him 5lb in one fell swoop and that means Torn And Frayed enters the veterans’ arena 5lb shy of his last winning mark.
I’m not sure Torn And Frayed will enjoy the deep, mid-winter grind of the Veterans’ Chase, so Twiston-Davies will probably be eyeing an early race like this on better ground, and his yard is in real jump season started in typically red-hot form.
The 3m1f ride is a question mark, but his two and a half mile pace could be crucial against some of the sloggers, and while this looks like a stepping stone for most of the field, it could be the trophy for Torn And Frayed finale.
The Verdict: Torn back and frayed in the 2.25 Aintree
Aba can be a hit in Wincanton
There are also a few races from Wincanton on ITV and in an open looking My Pension Expert Handicap Chase over the expansive 3m2f another veteran, DEISE ABAcould be worth a risk with big odds.
He used to wear the colors of the late Trevor Hemmings when trained by Philip Hobbs, but now wears a new silk jersey with Alexandra Dunn and is a strong stayer, after a point-to-pointing and hunter spell from a reduced Brand interesting is hunting.
A new environment and the switch from headgear to blinders seemed to have revitalized him late in his career and he jumped with excitement when he beat What A Glance to earn him half a stone in an April hunt at Stratford.
That was a good performance considering what the runner-up did later in victories in the Cheltenham and Stratford Chases, and he is interesting for Dunn on his stable debut.
The Somerset runner started the season in good form, winning handicap chases with Instant Gambler at 25/1 (has since won three more races) and Nevendon at 16/1, so she has defied all odds for one in recent times caused a surprise.
The Verdict: Support DEISA ABA at 3.15 Wincanton
The preview was released on 10/26/24 at 1550 BST
Click here for Ben Linfoot’s full tip list
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