Chepstow & Aintree racing tips: Free Simon Holt preview and recommended bets for Saturday December 5

Chepstow & Aintree recommended bets, December 5

1pt win Quoi De Neuf in 12.20 Aintree at 3/1

1pt win Walkinthemill in 1.30 Aintree at 11/2

2pts win Lamanver Pippin in 1.57 Chepstow at 4/1

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With value looking hard to find on a superb card at Sandown which features the return of Altior in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase and an intriguing clash between Allmankind, Hitman, Eldorado Allen and Ga Law in the Planteur At Chapel Stud Henry VIII Novices' Chase, the net is cast a little further afield on Saturday in the hunt for winners.

At Aintree, WALK IN THE MILL bids for a remarkable hat-trick of victories in the William Hill Becher Handicap Chase and, once again, is fancied to endorse his love of the Grand National fences under regular pilot James Best.

Successful for the first time here in 2018 when beating Vieux Lion Rouge by four-and-a-half lengths, Robert Walford's standard bearer was then a fine fourth behind Tiger Roll in the National the following spring before returning to beat Kimberlite Candy by two-and-a-half lengths 12 months ago (fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time.) Walk In The Mill was denied a leading chance of National glory by the pandemic in the spring after a satisfactory prep-run over hurdles but a recent reappearance over fences at Ascot (not disgraced) should have put him spot on for another Becher with the cheek-pieces back on.

Last year's performance was franked when Kimberlite Candy bolted up in Warwick's Classic Chase but, as a result, Tom Lacey's charge took a steep rise in the weights and looks up against it meeting the selection now on 8lb worse terms.

Previous form over this unique course can prove crucial so last year's seventh Le Breuil should also be thereabouts now 9lb lower in the ratings, and after a reasonable comeback at Kelso in October.

Earlier on, QUOI DE NEUF may improve enough for his first run over fences to take the Follow @willhillracing On Twitter Handicap Chase having chased home Canelo over the course and distance last month.

A bit awkward over his fences in the early stages that day when getting little daylight, the Evan Williams-trained six-year-old gradually warmed to his task and, while no match for the winner (and he may have been only third but for the fall of Northofthewall two out), it was still a satisfactory effort in what was possibly a stronger race than this large field contest.

Over hurdles last season, Quoi De Neuf shaped well on a couple of occasions, notably when a close fourth behind Harambe in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham where forced to switch twice, and this lightly-raced Irish point-to-point winner is likely to be a better chaser.

At Chepstow, LAMANVER PIPPIN should be all the fitter for his third behind Storm Control at Cheltenham last month and returns to the scene of last season's fluent course and distance win in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial.

At the time of his reappearance, many of Colin Tizzard's team were needing a run, but they appear much sharper now, and this promising stayer may also benefit from the fitting of cheek-pieces to help him travel a bit better than at Cheltenham where he kept plugging away in the closing stages.

A creditable third behind the much higher-rated pair Ravenhill and Lord Du Mesnil in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival in March (weakened from two out), Lamanver Pippin also looks potentially well handicapped on his previous course defeat of Fortescue, who won his next two races.

Posted at 1545 GMT on 04/12/20

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