11th-Nov-2023

I am backing Huelgoat in this conditional jockeys’ handicap chase.

Paul Nicholls’ horse was progressive in the early part of last season, winning four in a row, then finishing placed three times, all over fences.  His best performance was probably in the seventh of those seven races, when he kept on well to finish second behind Harlem Soul in a handicap chase at Wincanton on St Stephen’s Day off a mark of 120.

He didn’t run after that until he returned in April at Perth and, after finishing second in a hurdle race at Worcester three weeks later, he was given a nice break, unitl he returned over hurdles at Worcester in late September in a novices’ handicap hurdle.

He kept on to finish fourth that day, and that run should have brought him forward for today.  Paul Nicholls loves to have winners on this day, Badger Beer Chase day at Wincanton, and it is probable that he has had this race in mind for Huelgoat for a little while, with Freddie Gingell booked, fresh from winning the Haldon Gold Cup yesterday on Elixir De Nutz.

Huelgoat is only 1lb higher now than he was when he ran that good race over today’s course and distance on St Stephen’s Day.  He obviously likes the track, and he could go well again today.

Flagrant Delitiep is the biggest danger in my book, but Huelgoat is the bet.

HUELGOAT WON (ADV 5/1, SP 4/1)