Wincanton tips for Saturday: Southfield Theatre to take centre stage in Badger Ales

Coral horse racing experts give their Wincanton tips for Saturday, November 5, where Southfield Theatre odds for the Badger Ales Trophy and North Hill Harvey bets in the Elite Hurdle are recommended punts.

Southfield Theatre odds in Badger Ales Trophy

Trainer Paul Nicholls has his team in tremendous form, so Southfield Theatre looks to hold leading claims of providing him with another winner in the valuable Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton (15:20).

The gelding has won three of his nine starts over fences, but his best run arguably came in defeat when runner-up to the classy Don Poli in the 2015 running of the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off an official rating of 154.

Although below par in his first two starts this season, Southfield Theatre was in the process of putting in a much better performance when brought down at the 13th in the Ultima Handicap Chase around Prestbury Park.

He went on to round off the campaign with a solid 6 1/4 length fourth of 20 to The Young Master in an ultra-competitive contest at Sandown off 150.

Course form and good ground a big plus

The eight-year-old now meets with the winner on 5lb better terms and also has the services of the highly promising Harry Cobden in the saddle whose claim takes another 3lb off his back.

Southfield Theatre is also able to race off a reduced rating of 147 and has a terrific record fresh and will relish the good going.

Another big plus is that the son of King’s Theatre runs the track well having won three of his four starts at it and everything looks in place for Southfield Theatre to make a winning return to action.

North Hill Harvey can be number one in Elite Hurdle

In the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle (14.10), North Hill Harvey looks the one to be on now eased in class.

The Dan Skelton trained five-year-old shaped with bags of promise when runner-up to the smart Barters Hill on hurdling debut at Huntingdon before opening his account with a smooth 4 1/2 length success at Cheltenham.

North Hill Harvey then made a series of mistakes when runner-up in a Listed contest at Huntingdon before being far from disgraced when ninth of 14 to Altior in a strong renewal of the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The four-year-old went on to round off the campaign with a decent fourth to Buveur D’air in a Grade 1 at Aintree, leaving the impression that he would have more to offer this season once strengthened up.

If that proves to be the case North Hill Harvey could take some stopping in this lower grade contest for a yard going great guns at present.