Paul Nicholls can strike at local course
Sandown has lost today's Veternans' chase final meeting due to a waterlogged course. Thankfully, Wincanton has survived a morning inspection and goes ahead on heavy ground.
It's a quiet day on the quality front in the UK with ITV racing showing Newcastle & Wincanton. However, I have found a tip that I think can go well for us and get 2024 off to a good start.
Huelgoat drops down in trip having found the 3m on soft too far at Sandown last time out. He jumps well and has plenty of experience over fences landing 5 wins from 10 runs over the big obstacles. Huelgoat has run well over this trip at Wincanton finishing second a year ago and winning in November. He stayed on nicely to win here in November off a mark of 121 with Freddie Gingell claiming 6lbs.
Paul Nicholls has a tidy 28% strike rate at his local course (Wincanton) over the past five seasons. He has Freddie Gingell back in the saddle this afernoon, where Freddie's 5lb claim is good value and helps reduce Huelgoat's weight to be carried down to 11-8.
Wincanton 2:40
1 point each way Huelgoat 5/1 William Hill else 4/1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Bet365 & Betfred, paying 3 places.
Past Results
Click to see past Big Saturday Race Preview Tips results
Wincanton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wincanton, Somerset, England.
The steeplechase fences are large, making it a good test of a chaser. Three fences in quick succession in the second half of the home-straight make for exciting racing and often change the complexion of a finish dramatically; resulting in a great many close finishes.
The track stages several big races, including the Kingwell Hurdle in February. The CGA Chase (previously the Jim Ford Challenge Cup, last run in 2012) was run on the same day; these races were significant trials for the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively. Several of the races at the course were shown on Channel 4 and are now occasionally shown on ITV.
The track is located near to the yard of the trainer, Paul Nicholls and as such many of his young horses run here.
Notable races
| Month | DOW | Race Name | Type | Grade | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | Saturday | Kingwell Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 1m7f 50y | 4yo + |
| November | Saturday | Badger Beer Handicap Chase | Chase | Premier Handicap | 3m 1f 30y | 4yo+ |
| November | Saturday | Elite Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 1m7f50y | 4yo + |
| November | Saturday | Rising Stars Novices' Chase | Chase | Grade 2 | 2m 4f 35y | 4yo + |