Wincanton Tips: Three bets including a selection in the Elite Hurdle

It's Wincanton's big day on Saturday, as they host some top notch National Hunt racing with some potential Cheltenham Festival contenders set to strut their stuff. Here at HorseRacing.net, we have taken a look at the action, and picked out our best three bets on the card....

14:25 Wincanton - Richard Barber Memorial Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Fergal O'Brien's Une De La Seniere rocketed to an impressive four-and-a-half length victory at Ludlow last time out, and the progressive mare will now look to build on that success at Wincanton at the weekend. However, she will have to contend with a notable 6lbs rise for that success, and while she's sure to play a notable role, she could just struggle to replicate that Ludlow win, and she is worth taking on.

The one that is worth siding with is the Colin Tizzard-trained ROSE OF ARCADIA, who was a winner on her last visit to Wincanton, and she can duly emulate that victory by getting her head in front once again. The six-year-old was last seen finishing a creditable fifth in a competitive Grade 2 series final at Newbury, and having been dropped 1lb for that run, then a mark of 119 looks more than feasible. 

This is likely to be a little easier than that Newbury event, and having shown such good form (2nd and 1st) at Wincanton then she looks to be a major player here. The Tizzard yard have been in terrific form of late with Fiddlerontheroof and Eldorado Allen just two big name winners in the last week, and Rose Of Arcadia can continue the form and claim the win here.

15:00 Wincanton - 60th Badger Beer Handicap Chase

There's a hugely competitive renewal of the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at 15:00 and Paul Nicholls - who has trained the winner in three of the last four renewals - will have a strong team lining up with Highland Hunter and Truckers Lodge both looking notable contenders for the Ditcheat trainer.

Fergal O'Brien's Hurricane Harvey is another prominent figure in the betting and has to be given a second look, while last year's winner El Presente is another worthy of a mention in what is a cracking betting heat for punters to enjoy on Saturday afternoon in front of the ITV cameras.

Having already sided with the Tizzard yard earlier in the card, it's that stable that we head to again for the selection here and it's STORM HOME that catches the eye at double-figured prices. A hugely progressive performer in recent times, Storm Home rocketed to a nine-length plus win in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter back in the summer, while he followed that up with another easy win in July at the same Staffordshire track. He was unable to land the hat-trick when falling at Exeter last time out, but he's worth taking another chance with here.

He will face a tough task off a new mark of 145, but with Harry Kimber taking a valuable 7lbs off his back then Storm Home has to be considered a potential each-way play on ground that should suit him, and while he will need a career best to win this - he looks more than capable of producing it here.

15:35 Wincanton - Unibet Elite Hurdle

Alan King's evergreen nine-year-old SCEAU ROYAL will attempt to win a third Elite Hurdle on Saturday afternoon at Wincanton, and the ultra-consistent Barbury Castle inmate is going to be very tough to beat in what is an intriguing renewal of the Grade 2 showpiece. A winner in 2016 and 2020, Sceau Royal has been switching between hurdles and fences over the last few seasons, but he showed when winning at Kempton Park over hurdles last time out that he still possesses all his qualities, and it's going to be tough to see him not winning here.

He comfortably beat Teqany in that Kempton event, and he should have that rival's measure here, while his other opponents here have clouds hanging over them. Gary Moore's Goshen has failed to fire in recent seasons having looked a superstar when pulling miles clear of his rivals in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle, before falling at the final hurdle. He did win the Kingwell Hurdle last season at Wincanton, so a return to the track could see him at his best, but he's often blown more cold than hot in recent times, and he is worth taking on with Sceau Royal.

Impressive County Hurdle hero Belfast Banter then went on to win a Grade 1 at Aintree, but he failed to land a blow in the Galway Hurdle, while he was a faller last time out at Listowel, so he's another that is worth avoiding in a race that can go the way of the likely favourite Sceau Royal, who can bag an Elite Hurdle hat-trick.