Royale Pagaille can be the headline act in Saturday's races televised by ITV

24 November 2023 , 13:30

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Royale Pagaille won the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock for the second year in a row (Image: PA)

ROYALE PAGAILLE can cause an upset for in-form Venetia Williams in the Betfair Chase (3.00) at Haydock Park on Saturday.

To say Williams is enjoying a purple patch is an understatement – the Herefordshire trainer is knocking winners left, right and centre at a strike-rate bettering one in three.

And Charlie Deutsch’s mount has more than stable form on his side – Royale Pagaille’s only defeat from four visits to Newton-le-Willows came when he crossed the line in second behind A Plus Tard in this race two years ago.

Bravemansgame , 14 lengths in front of my selection when landing the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park last Boxing Day, and defending champion Protektorat are fighting it out at the head of the market for the first Grade 1 test of the 2023-24 National Hunt season.

Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame (AFP via Getty Images)

But Royale Pagaille, for whom cut in the ground is a plus, is well up to making his presence felt at the highest level - and should not be underestimated.

Newsboy’s Daily Double plus tips on every race from Thursday’s four meetings

SLATE LANE is fancied to stretch his unbeaten record for Emmet Mullins to 4-4 by capturing the Betfair “Serial Winners” Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2.20).

The five-year-old son of Ask has had all the answers since joining the Grand National- winning handler from Paul Hennessy last summer.

Starting off with a 10-length call in a Cartmel maiden hurdle in June, Slate Lane lifted a handicap hurdle at Bangor in August before racking up the hat-trick at Newton Abbot.

The handicapper hasn’t taken those successes lying down and Donagh Meyler’s mount is now a stone higher than when beating Tommie Beau in Devon on his most recent outing. But there is still more to come.

Mullins’ uncle Willie saddles last season’s National third Gaillard Du Mesnil for the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (1.50), but preference is for APPLE AWAY .

Lucinda Russell’s mare took off over timber in the second half of last season, scoring at Ayr and Doncaster before recording a 16-1 surprise in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, and is a fascinating recruit to chasing.

Defending champion STAINSBY GIRL shouldn’t be underestimated in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (1.15). A move up to Listed level at Wetherby three weeks ago proved beyond the Nick Alexander-saddled mare, but she may not be done with back in the handicap sphere.

DOCPICKEDME missed out by a head at Warwick on his debut for Richard Hobson, and can go one better in the Betfair “Free Racing Multiple Today” Handicap Chase (3.35).

At Ascot, SHISHKIN should justify short odds in the Grade 2 Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase (1.30).

Moving up from two miles last season, Nicky Henderson’s star humbled Pic D’Orhy by 16 lengths in the top-level Ascot Chase over course and distance in February and rounded off the campaign by overhauling Ahoy Senor for the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl Chase over three miles and a furlong.

Newsboy’s Daily Double plus tips on every race from Friday’s four meetings

This race looks the perfect tune-up for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Cult hero GOSHEN gets the vote to repeat his success of 12 months ago in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle (2.05), while favourite BOOT HILL is the pick in the Jim Barry Hurst Park Handicap Chase (3.15).

Saturday tips

HAYDOCK PARK
12.05 KAMSINAS
12.40 FEARLESS
1.15 STAINSBY GIRL
1.50 APPLE AWAY
2.20 SLATE LANE
3.00 ROYALE PAGAILLE
3.35 DOCPICKEDME

ASCOT
12.20 CHIANTI CLASSICO
12.55 EXCELLO
1.30 SHISHKIN
2.05 GOSHEN (NB)
2.40 LASSUE
3.15 BOOTHILL

3.50 REGENT’S STROLL

LINGFIELD PARK
11.00 MASHAAER
11.30 PURPLE POPPY
12.00 ARCTIC THUNDER
12.35 HOLKHAM BAY
1.10 BALDOMERO
1.45 VICTORIA GROVE
2.17 SHOOT TO KILL
2.53 OPERATIC ARTIST
3.30 STAR OF LADY M

PUNCHESTOWN
11.40 LARK IN THE MORNIN
12.13 PREDATORS GOLD
12.48 GAELIC WARRIOR
1.23 FLOORING PORTER
1.58 MARS HARPER
2.35 STATE MAN
3.08 YEATS STAR
3.43 THE ENABLER

HUNTINGDON
11.50 THE WISE TRAVELLER
12.28 TELLHERTHENAME
1.03 SASHENKA
1.38 MUMFORD’S MAGIC
2.13 PARC D’AMOUR
2.48 WILLIAM CODY
3.23 COMPOSITE

WOLVERHAMPTON
4.15 POLLY ROCKET
4.45 HE’S A GENTLEMAN
5.15 HOT CHESNUT
5.45 BOLD STYLE
6.15 SPIRIT GENIE
6.45 CHASE THE DOLLAR
7.15 DICKIEBURD
7.45 LOOBY
8.15 GIRL FROM ITALY (NAP)

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David Yates