'There are worse 33-1 shots than him' - top tips for a cracking weekend of racing as Nick Scholfield joins our team of experts

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Who are you with in the Badger Beers (3.30) at Wincanton? 

Pat Cooney, bet365 Given that Paul Nicholls has won this 11 times, I suppose Threeunderthrufive is a likely candidate. However, I can't say he's well handicapped off 152, so I'll take Gustavian to make his low weight count here as he may well try to make all the running.

Page Fuller, RaceiQ analyst Soul Icon is interesting stepped up to this trip for the first time. As Al Dancer proved last year, Wincanton is a fast track where you have to be able to jump and travel at speed, we which know is Soul Icon's forte. Toby McCain-Mitchell takes a valuable 5lb off as well, and he is operating at an impressive actual vs expected of 1.7 in the last 12 months.

Maddy Playle, reporter It's a sign of where racing has been headed for a long time that there are only seven runners, but at least it's still a trappy affair. I think Soul Icon could run well. He very nearly won the Rising Stars on this card last year and along with Scarface he's the youngest horse in this race, so should have the most upside. He's not a guaranteed stayer, but this Flat track should play to his speed, and Toby McCain-Mitchell takes a handy 5lb off.

Nick Scholfield, trainer Art Of Diplomacy is a worthy favourite but I think Gustavian looks of interest after a wind op for Anthony Honeyball. He ran okay in the race last year and should appreciate the quick ground. 

Robbie Wilders, tipster I'm on Threeunderthrufive ante-post and was happy to see the field carve up to just seven declarations. Paul Nicholls has a superb record at this meeting and Threeunderthrufive is mustard when fresh, while he ran a belter when second in a weaker 2023 Badger Beers. However, I'll go back in with Soul Icon win-only. He had the speed to win a Desert Orchid and will have a massive chance if he stays. 

Who's your pick for the Grand Sefton (2.40) at Aintree?

Cooney Our Power ended last season with a fine third in the Scottish National, yet he's a 1lb lower today. He’d prefer a longer trip but he has won over similar distances in the past. I think Sam Thomas and Dylan Johnston are a really good combination, and Dylan’s 3lb claim may make the difference here.

Fuller Nocte Volatus's two seconds in Class 2 chases last season prove he's capable at this level. Over the National fences jumping will be key, and he excels in that department. His career level Jump Index of 7.9 is the highest rating in the race, and he's gained the most lengths jumping in six of his last ten races in our database. 

Playle He's 3lb out of the weights, but I can envisage If Not For Dylan running a screamer at 22-1. He ran with plenty of encouragement over regulation fences at the track on his reappearance and showed he had more winning to do last season when landing a competitive handicap chase at Newcastle. He's won over much further but isn't short of pace for a stayer and dropping back to this trip will play to his strengths. 

Scholfield I'm retired now but if I could pick one to ride in the race it would be Our Power. Sam Thomas's horses are in great form and he's a solid jumper. Although he has a fair bit of weight he would be the one I would want to be with. 

Wilders King Turgeon won this with a lot in hand in 2024 and, given he's only seven, his best days may still be ahead of him. His form tailed off in the spring but he's at his best at this time of year, and wind surgery should help. He was an impressive winner at Chepstow first time out following the procedure last October and this will have been his long-term target.  

And one for the November Handicap (3.45) at Doncaster?

Cooney I thought Castle Cove should be rated higher based on his last run, where I thought he ran with credit over a longer trip having lost a shoe at some point. The drop back in trip here, soft ground and first-time hood all look positives for him. This certainly looks the right conditions for a big run.

Fuller Hopewell Rock has a plum draw in stall one, and the sectionals suggest that his recent step up in trip has been the key to his improvement. Last time at Leicester, he was the fastest horse through the final three furlongs in a race that rated 8.2 out of 10 on our RaceiQ Time Index. It was also the best time performance on the day.

Metier: overpriced in November HandicapCredit: Mark Cranham

Playle There are worse 33-1 bets than the old boy Metier, who won the race in 2022. He's 6lb higher now, but is also 2lb lower than when winning the Chester Cup in 2023, so is competitively weighted. He also has the eyecatching 5lb claim of breakthrough Irish rider Nicola Burns. He's been lightly raced in recent years, but this race has surely been the target. 

Scholfield Grey Cuban has a good each way shot for Rossa Ryan and Hugo Palmer. He was staying on best of all over 1m2f there last time and enjoys soft ground, so he should go well at around 16-1. 

Wilders I want Hot Fuss onside each-way with extra places up for grabs. He's always been a free-goer who likes a slow surface, so a good-ground Chester Cup was never likely to suit, and his previous fourth in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival was a big effort. The pace was red-hot and he fared best of the prominent racers despite failing to settle. 1m4f on a slow surface at Doncaster should be ideal.

Who else should we look out for on ITV4?

Cooney Montassib is impossible to oppose in Doncaster's Wentworth Stakes (1.25). He won the Sprint Cup at Haydock over 6f on soft ground last year, so he's definitely up to winning this Listed race receiving weight from his two biggest dangers. I can see him being all the rage in the betting market as he has plenty in his favour.

Fuller Rubaud in the Elite Hudle (2.55). He performed well over fences last season, but it wasn't his forte, and I think he could improve again over hurdles this year. his Jump Index of 8.3 out of 10 over hurdles and puts him in the top 50 of 10,064 hurdle ratings in our database. For context, his jumping only rated 7.4 out of 10 over fences.

Playle The 2m handicap chase (2.05) at Aintree could be a race to follow. I thought Mambonumberfive was a really impressive individual when he won at Kempton last season, so I'm not surprised connections have gone over fences with him straight away. Most of his opponents are unexposed types with interesting handicap marks, so it should be a good contest.

Scholfield I think Paul Nicholls has a strong chance of a treble in consecutive races at Wincanton with Jubilee Alpha (1.45), Blueking D'Oroux (2.23) and then Rubaud (2.55), who must have a great chance of registering a hat-trick of wins in the Elite Hurdle. 

Wilders The Lord Maid catches the eye in the Pertemps Hurdle qualifier (12.55) at Aintree. Tom Lacey can get them ready first time out and The Lord Maid was progressive last season, signing off her campaign with a good victory over Lavida Adiva off level weights at Ayr. That mare won a Listed race by nine lengths on her previous outing, so the form looks decent, and this lightly raced seven-year-old retains untapped potential over this trip.

And who takes your eye away from the ITV4 action?

Cooney Sir Carnegie looks to be an improving novice chaser for Mickey Bowen in his last two starts and could have gone up more than the 7lbs he got for his easy win last time under Shane Fenelon, who looks good value for his 5lbs claim. With some sound jumping, I take him to win again in the 2m7½f novice handicap chase (1.52) at Kelso under another patient ride.

Fuller Trust Amy should appreciate his return to a handicap in the 6f nursery (2.00) at Doncaster. He fluffed his start in a Listed contest last time, taking 0.49 seconds longer to reach 20mph than the winner. You can't forfeit ground like that in a sprint race on heavy ground, so there are plenty of reasons to think we'll see a better version of him today.

Convergent (left): interesting runner for Karl Burke in GermanyCredit: galoppfoto

Playle Convergent was a winner for me in this feature on Irish Champions Weekend and he has taken his form up another level since winning that Group 3 race. He was down in trip and beat some established older rivals like Dubai Honour in the Prix du Conseil de Paris last time, and he'll bid for a first Group 1 win in the Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern (2.40) at Munich. He's still improving and should be a force to be reckoned with. 

Scholfield Georgey is running in a valuable bumper at Wincanton (4.05) for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White and he looks a strong candidate. He's related to a decent hurdler in Regarding Ruth and could go well at decent odds on his debut. 

Wilders Downmexicoway is a novice on the up and should take some stopping for Henry de Bromhead in the 2m handicap chase (1.03) at Gowran. He pulled well clear of Pied Piper when a good second to the smart Gold Dancer in a Grade 3 novice at Tipperary last time. That horse is heading to the Drinmore with a big shout and dropping back in trip won't hurt Downmexicoway, who acts on slower ground.   

Give us one to watch on Sunday

Cooney Ben Pauling is raking in the winners and Youdecide looks to have a solid chance in the 2m4f novice handicap hurdle (3.25) at Ffos Las. He showed steady improvement last season and looks reasonably well weighted off a mark of 99. Carrying 12 stone on soft ground won't be easy, but I think his class can overcome that.

Fuller Champ Kiely drops back in trip at Naas in the Barberstown Castle Chase (3.02) but it should prove no problem for him. He's hit Top Speeds of more than 33mph in four of his five races this year and also gained the most lengths on the field from his jumping in four of five races too. Based on his win at Punchestown in April, he brings the class to this race.

Playle It's a shame the fields are so deplorable at Sandown. Only The Bold (3.15) bounced back to his better form when winning the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter when last seen and ought to have the most in hand off his current mark. It will also be interesting to see Mon Champion (1.30) make his British debut for Paul Nicholls earlier on in the card.

Scholfield I had my first runners as a trainer this week and have three entered on Sunday including Connies Hill in the bumper at Sandown (3.50). It's a competitive race but she should give a good account and should be winning races before too long, as should our Ffos Las pair Great Name That (2.15) and Bollin Thou (3.25). 

Wilders Inthepocket in the Barberstown Castle Chase (3.02). He's suited by the conditions of this race, with so many of his chief rivals carrying big penalties. He's clearly fragile as he's only run three times since his Grade 1 success in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, but he has a massive engine and can start making up for lost time. I doubt he'd be risked if he wasn't ready and Henry de Bromhead is in top form.

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