How to bet your £20 on Saturday: Dennis means business in Badger Ales Trophy

Small fields are a feature over jumps this weekend but the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton (3.35) features a maximum field of 18 to get stuck into.

It seems unlikely to stay that way because plenty of rain is forecast to fall at the track overnight and on Saturday.

Runners declared on good to soft going look like being confronted by attritional conditions by late afternoon and that could lead to a depleted field.

Final Nudge is in his element when the mud is flying and he looks massively overpriced at 20-1 with bet365.

In his early days he finished fourth at Newbury in probably the best bumper ever run - the first three home were Barters Hill, Buveur D’Air and Altior - and at this meeting two years ago he thumped Present Man by seven lengths in a novices’ hurdle over an extended 2m5f on heavy ground.

Later that season he split Unowhatimeanharry and West Approach in a 3m contest at Cheltenham and when switched to fences last term he chalked up three wins and might well have played a part in the finish of the Midlands Grand National had he not fallen four out.

His jumping is not a concern and, while he lacks a recent run, his record when fresh is encouraging - as is the fact that trainer David Dennis has won with two of his seven runners this month.

I fancy Dennis means business because he has booked two-time Grand National-winning rider Leighton Aspell and resisted taking up an entry to run Final Nudge against Might Bite at Sandown on Sunday when, had he merely wanted to blow cobwebs away, his horse could have jogged around and been guaranteed some prize money.

The two of most interest in the Unibet Elite Hurdle (3.00) are Lough Derg Spirit and Coeur De Lion, with preference for the latter because at 9-1 with bet365 and Betway he is trading at the much bigger price.

Coeur De Lion developed into a useful juvenile last term and was far from disgraced when seventh in the Triumph Hurdle, especially as the good ground would not have played to his strengths.

He arrives in-form from staying contests on the Flat and, while he will be suited by further in due course, ground conditions should bring his undoubted stamina into play. Alan King is also using the 10lb claim of Kevin Dowling, which looks another shrewd move.

My main fancy at Aintree is Louis' Vac Pouch in the Pertemps Network (Supporting BTRC) Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) at 1.40.

The Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old ended last season on the up and hinted there was even more to come this campaign when a close sixth (beaten a couple of lengths) in a hot renewal of Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow last month.

Louis' Vac Pouch can race keenly and now steps up to 3m for the first time, but he kept on stoutly at Chepstow and his pedigree is all about stamina.

The curtain comes down on the Flat season at Doncaster and the one who interests me at a general 25-1 in the November Handicap (3.15) is Cohesion.

David Bridgwater’s four-year-old shaped well when runner-up on his hurdling debut at Plumpton 19 days ago after a six-month absence - he was a late withdrawal from the Ebor in the intervening period - and that should have put him spot-on for this prize.

Cohesion is the type to do well over jumps this winter but there is definitely a hint of unfinished business about him on the Flat. He is only 3lb higher than when landing a decent contest at Wolverhampton in March and you can put a line through his subsequent two efforts on the level because he was badly hampered on the first occasion and then, on the second, was ridden much too aggressively in a Group Three contest won by Marmelo.

The likely testing ground at Town Moor will not bother him (he won on heavy going in France last year when owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah) and his ability to stay further than 1m4f will also stand him in good stead.

I also like the fact Bridgwater has snapped up excellent 3lb apprentice George Wood, who won last year’s renewal aboard Prize Money. Wood is only nine winners away from losing his claim.

At shorter odds, Sir Dancealot is likely to take plenty of stopping in the Betfred Mobile Wentworth Stakes (2.05).

He has been frustrating to follow since beating Dream Of Dreams, who he meets again, in a Listed race at York last autumn but there was plenty to like about the way he got back to winning ways at the main expense of the smart Jallota over 7f at Doncaster a fortnight ago.

Sir Dancealot drops back to six furlongs but he is not short of speed and the front-running trio of Dark Defender, Flying Pursuit and Teruntum Star should tee things up a treat for him.

How To Bet £20 on Saturday:

(Prices correct at 4pm on Friday - Louis' Vac Pouch price added 5.15pm)

OPTION ONE:

1.40 Aintree: Louis' Vac Pouch £2.50 win at a general 3-1

2.05 Doncaster: Sir Dancealot £2.50 win at 11-4 with bet365

3.00 Wincanton: Coeur De Lion £3 win at 9-1 with bet365 and Betway

3.15 Doncaster: Cohesion £3 each-way at a generally available 25-1

3.35 Wincanton: Final Nudge (nap selection) £3 each-way at 20-1 with bet365

OPTION TWO: 60p Win Lucky 31 plus 70p each-way fivefold (general odds in brackets)

1.40 Aintree: Louis' Vac Pouch (3-1)

2.05 Doncaster: Sir Dancealot (9-4)

3.00 Wincanton: Coeur De Lion (9-1)

3.15 Doncaster: Cohesion (25-1)

3.35 Wincanton: Final Nudge (16-1)

OPTION THREE:

£3.50 each-way on each plus £3 each-way double (general odds in brackets)

3.15 Doncaster: Cohesion (25-1)

3.35 Wincanton: Final Nudge (16-1)