Wincanton stages an excellent meeting on Thursday afternoon including the Somerset National Handicap Chase at 3.50pm. We will provide a Horse Racing tip, preview and prediction for this extended 3m 2f stamina test along with two other races on the card.
Our first Horse Racing tip comes in the 1.45pm race, a 3m 1f handicap hurdle, followed by a 2m 4f handicap chase at 2.15pm featuring a field of nine runners.
“Tip of the Day” – Destinee Royale – 3.50pm Wincanton
Since stepping up in trip, the Venetia Williams-trained mare looks the type to win a decent staying handicap chase at some point this season and can get the ball rolling with a victory in this Somerset National.
St Barts (Longshot) – 1.45pm Wincanton
Many of these have been running over fences of late, one exception being the Gary Moore-trained Imphal who is set to receive 10lb or more from all of his rivals.
The mount of Jamie Moore won three races towards the end of last year and came up against a possible handicap ‘good thing’ when finishing a distant second to Ardhill from the Gordon Elliott stable at Ascot last month.
The Nathaniel gelding looks sure to go close but on his return to hurdles for the first time in almost two years, St Barts from the in-form Philip Hobbs stable is fancied to take his record to three wins from five starts over the smaller obstacles.
The last time Tom O’Brien’s mount ran over hurdles was when running out an easy winner of an Ascot handicap back in February 2020, off a mark of 118. An impressive winner on his second start over fences at Newbury later that year, the son of High Chaparral almost certainly needed the run when unplaced behind subsequent Welsh Grand National winner Iwilldoit at Chepstow on his reappearance. Back over hurdles and on a fair mark of 128, the eight-year-old can get back to winning ways with conditions to suit.
Oneupmanship (Next Best) – 2.15pm Wincanton
In a field consisting mainly of out-of-form contenders or those approaching the twilight of their careers, top weight Oneupmanship makes plenty of appeal on just his second start over fences.
The Jack Barber-trained seven-year-old, a winner over hurdles at Ffos Las last April off a 3lb higher mark, made his debut over fences at the Welsh track last month and was still in contention when falling at the second-last fence in an eventful contest.
The mount of Nick Scholfield is the least exposed runner in this Class 4 handicap and the son of Mahler could easily prove better class than his eight rivals, the best of which may be the veteran 12-year-old Native Robin.
Destinee Royale (NAP) – 3.50pm Wincanton
The Nick Williams-trained Favori De Sivola is on a hat-trick here following wins at Exeter and here at Wincanton towards the end of last year. The mount of David Noonan should still prove competitive off a 6lb higher mark compared to his Boxing Day victory. However, since stepping up to this kind of trip Destinee Royale from the Venetia Williams stable has looked like a horse destined to win a decent staying handicap chase at some point this season.
The nine-year-old mare’s first try at 3m resulted in an easy victory at Wetherby last February before the mount of Charlie Deutsch just failed to follow-up over an extra four and a half furlongs at Haydock five weeks later.
Making her reappearance at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, the daughter of Balko was bowling along in the lead when stumbling and falling 5 out. Just where Destinee Royale would have finished at Prestbury Park but for that mishap, is down to opinion. Running off the same mark of 132 however and in what looks an easier contest, the talented mare should take plenty of beating.
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