Saturdays Horseracing Tips, 21 November

By Carl Harris

What a brilliant day this is. The Betfair Chase is the best race of the day and for me Kauto Star is the bet of the season so far. In addition to Haydock Ascot stages an excellent jumps card with the Ascot Hurdle providing a very interesting and high class contest.

The rain will play its part, the heavens have opened, which certainly makes up for the very mild spell we enjoyed in October. Very sad to see the flooding, particularly in Cumbria and my thoughts are with all those affected. The emergency services just make you proud to be British, what a terrible thing to happen to people’s homes and businesses. God bless you all. Racing should survive the weather, certainly at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday.

14:55 Haydock, Kauto Star- Win. The Betfair Chase is a race that Kauto Star has won twice and famously unseated Sam Thomas last year. Paul Nicholls has targeted Haydock once again for his dual Gold Cup winning superstar to make his seasonal reappearance. Master Minded was beaten last week on his return but Nicholls did say he had left plenty to work on. In the case of Kauto Star he has been quite bullish. In a recent interview Nicholls told the press;

“Kauto Star worked very well on Wednesday morning ahead of his Haydock engagement in the Betfair Chase on Saturday and we are all looking forward to his reappearance. He worked with Big Buck’s, who is also in great form and heads to Newbury next week for the Long Distance Hurdle.”

The ground has given rise to doubts about Kauto Star and as a result he has drifted to a very attractive price. Timeform have said that his form in France and in the UK suggests that he will handle the heavy going. Looking at the opposition Kauto Star is way ahead and should win, even if slightly below his best. Racing should go ahead at Haydock and for me Kauto Star at the 5/4 with the Sponsors is the best bet of the jumps season so far.

Kauto Star 5/4 with sponsors for Betfair Chase

Latest Betfair prices;

Will Racing Go Ahead at Haydock on Saturday: Betfair bet: 2-9 Yes, 3-1 No

To win the Betfair Chase – sponsors bet: 5-4 Kauto Star, 23-10 Notre Pere, 15-2 Madison Du Berlais, 12-1 Imperial Commander, 17-1 Halcon Genelardias, 74-1 Nozic, 99-1 Rambling Minster, 209-1 The Sawyer, 309-1 Seymour Weld

Unbeaten Zaynar reappears at Ascot

14:35 Ascot, Zaynar- Win. Triumph Hurdle winner, Zaynar, makes his season reappearance at Ascot in the Ascot Hurdle. Unbeaten over hurdles Andrew Tinkler will partner the grey with the stable jockey Barry Geraghty banned and Tony McCoy claimed by owner JP McManus for Karabak. Zaynar looked a lazy type at times last season but he has an engine and a turn of foot. The step up in trip should actually be a positive and I think Zaynar will be a Champion Hurdle contender this season. Aintree festival scorer Time For Rupert lines up for trainer Paul Webber, who I think is the main danger.