The Hennessy Gold Cup takes centre stage at Newbury on Saturday afternoon. Always a competitive affair, this is a hotly backed race at the best of times, made especially so this year with a favourite on the drift!

Current favourite in the non runner no bet market with totesport is Big Bucks at 5/1. The five year old’s been steadily on the drift over the last fortnight, after a nightmare for trainer Paul Nicholls last weekend and the beating of Battlecry at Cheltenham a fortnight ago raised question marks over the form. Big Bucks was a 2 1/4 length winner over Battlecry last April in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree and the latter’s lacklustre display on his reappearance did little to encourage form backers.

So, who else can take the £100k prize on Saturday? Well, I like the look of Albertas Run. Although finishing third when beaten favourite in the aforementioned race at Aintree last season and running like a dog beaten 29 lengths by Tidal Bay in its reappearance this season, a return to the form that won it the Royal Sun Alliance at the festival in March will see it go close here. The negatives are reflected in the price at 10/1, but I’ll probably have a dabble each-way.

Elsewhere, a mention for Island Flyer. Carrying a featherweight 10 stone in the shape of Denis O ‘Regan it has the course form and talent to run a big race here.

Remember, 8 punters are going for the totescoop6 bonus this Saturday with the chosen race being the Hennessy. They’re are playing for a massive £1,529,525 in the bonus fund and remember, if it doesn’t get won this week it could be you next week!

Click here to bet on the totescoop6.

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It’s another bumper weekend of horse racing, made ever more so by the amazing totescoop6 rollover. We’ve picked out some of the premier races and hopefully given a few pointers for you to have a bet on as well.

Saturday sees afternoon racing from Huntingdon, Ascot, Haydock and Lingfield , with interesting festival claims for some of the National Hunt contingent.

Going through the cards in time order, we have the Betfair Hurdle at Haydock going off at 1.40pm where Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular will go off a big odds on shot against four other runners. This should be a shoe in for the Nicky Henderson four year old but at that price it might be worth sticking in a double.

Quarter of an hour later down at Ascot the second in the Champion Hurdle betting, Crack Away Jack has his second outing of the season. After hacking up in the Fred Winter last March and an even more impressive winner at Chepstow last time out he’s the talking horse here and will take all the beating.

It is a competitive race though and Chomba Womba also has claims after winning the Elite Hurdle last time out and the stable being in cracking form. If you can back Franchoek at 5’s or bigger he may be worth an each way bet. The Alan King trained youngster had a cracking start to last season after finishing the year disappointingly and although probably better left watched this time a nice juicy price might be too much of a temptation.

Back up the M6 to Haydock and the Betfair Chase at 2.15pm sees one of the sports great rivalries come head to head once again. Exotic Dancer has finished runner up to Kauto Star on three previous occasions and the betting suggests Saturday will be no different with the Nicholls trained Gold Cup winner 4/9 in the non runner no bet market at totesport. Exotic Dancer is 3/1 second favourite.

We can’t let tomorrow’s feature go without mentioning the record totescoop6. The action kicks off at 2.10pm from Lingfield and if you pick the six winners you could scoop up to £4.5 million.

Just a quick mention of Sunday’s action from Aintree with the totesport.com Becher Chase the feature from Liverpool.

Last years winner Mr Pointment goes off favourite this time again over the Grand National fences. The Nicholls trained nine-year-old carried a pound less last year so the weight shouldn’t be a problem and we know he gets the trip.

One to oppose him might be the second favourite Irish Raptor. Nigel Twiston Davies will be looking for a big race weekend double after scooping the Paddy Power last week and this horse will give him every chance. The nine year old gets the trip and receives a stone from the favourite making him definitely one to watch.

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The feature races for Day two and three of the November Open Meeting are the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday and the Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday.

Totesport are betting 1% per runner from Saturday morning. This means that as there are 20 runners in the race we’ll be betting to 120%, offering excellent betting value for the race.

Who to bet on though? Well, favourite is Silverburn at 10/3. The Nicholls trained full brother to Denman has the pedigree but flattered to deceive last season and can be taken on here. Third favourite Imperial Commander looks a better betting proposition at 15/2 for the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable. Well in at the weights and a course and distance winner here he should go close again. At a bigger price, Ashley Brook is sure to give a front running ride to enjoy at 25/1. Winner of the Haldon Cup a fortnight ago there are question marks as to whether he’ll get the trip, hence the price.

On Sunday, the Greatwood Hurdle is seen by many as a Champion Hurdle trial with a high quality list of previous winners to pick from. That saying, on paper it doesn’t look the best renewal with the David Pipe trained Ashkazar head of the betting at 7/2 with totesport. The four year old will carry top weight here and after an impressive win in last seasons Imperial Cup at Sandown he was beaten when well fancied in the Fred Winter a few days later.

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Saturday sees a record rollover weekend of the totescoop6, with a single winner of the win and bonus fund potentially scooping £2.5 million.

The win fund is currently sitting at £1.3 million before Saturday’s additions and could get up to a staggering£2 million.

A lucky winner will get a chance to win the bonus fund the following weekend which could well be another £800k.

Saturday’s totescoop6 races

Leg 1, Cheltenham - 2.00pm
Leg 2, Cheltenham - 2.35pm
Leg 3, Wetherby- 2.55pm
Leg 4, Cheltenham - 3.10pm
Leg 5, Wetherby- 3.25pm
Leg 6, Cheltenham - 3.45pm

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The National Hunt season really kicks off today with the start of the three-day Open meeting from Cheltenham.

The meeting kicks off at 1.15pm with the Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase. The queen of the amateur riding set is Nina Carberry and she has an interesting mount on board Irish raider Aggie’s Lad. Respect is always worth paying when Tony Martin sends one of his charges over the Irish Sea and the 9/2 available at totesport suggests this is no different.

There are a couple of short priced favourites in the second and third races at Prestbury Park in the shape of the Paul Nicholls trained American Trilogy (11/8) and Nigel Twiston-Davies charge Battlecry (8/11) respectively.

The highlight of the afternoon’s racing is undoubtedly the cross country chase at three O’clock and there’s some really interesting runners. Enda Bolger will again hope to take the prize after stable star Spotthedifference won the race an incredible four times and retired after last years win.

Bolger comes here double handed with Garde Champetre, winner of the festival Cross Country race back in March and new acquisition and former Gold Cup and Grand National runner L’Ami.

Garde Champetre is certainly the one to beat here at odds of 15/8 with totesport but is giving nearly a stone away to stable companion L’Ami, who if takes to the fences could capitalise. If you’re looking for some each-way value, unknown sort Juventus travels over from the Czech Republic. The cross-country specialist has placed three times in the prestigious Velka Pardubicka, including third in the latest renewal and is a 33/1 shot in the betting with totesport.

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It’s officially the last day of the flat season tomorrow and totesport have sponsored six of the seven race card at Doncaster, including the feature totescoop6 November Handicap.

This is a real competitive handicap with top weight Presvis likely to go off favourite. The Cumani trained four year old was a winner last time out in the John Smith Stakes at Newbury and has the champion jockey elect on his back, he’s sure to take some beating.

Four of the last six winners in the race have been three year olds, so it may be worth having a closer look at Betchworth Kid, the highest rated of the trio of three year olds in this years renewal. A win here would cap off a superb season for jockey Hayley Turner and should be vying for third favourtism around the 10/1 mark.Elsewhere, the jumps season gathers pace at Wincanton with the feature Badger Ales Trophy following the totetentofollow.co.uk Elite Hurdle.

Leading Attraction will go off a likely favourite in the chase, with Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh having a terrific record at the Wiltshire track. The seven year old was bought by Trevor Hemmings in the summer after a decent novice career and with course form to boot should be difficult to beat here.

Another one to have a look at is Aztec Warrior. Course form and well in the weights the Henrietta Knight trained seven year old could have each-way claims with Andrew Thornton on board.

There are only five runners in the Elite Hurdle but the Champion two mile hurdler is amongst them and will take the beating here. If you were to oppose the champ, Takeroc and Chomba Womba both showed promise last season and could spring a surprise.

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It’s Champions day on the Rowley Mile this Saturday and it’s a real Autumnal festival of flat racing.

The Group One Dewhurst Stakes will see Irish raider Rip Van Winkle go off the likely favourite, despite trainer Aiden O’ Brien’s reports of interrupted preparations for the two year old colt.

Further down the betting, consistent sort Lord Shanakill could have a good each way shout. The Karl Burke trained colt won last time out in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on good ground and an impressive performance here isn’t above him.

Derby winner New Approach is the star of the show in the Champion Stakes. He’ll be looking to do the Anglo-Irish double after winning the Irish Champion Stakes last time out and will have renewed the punters faith in him after an in-different performance in the Juddmonte here at Newmarket back in August.

The totesport.com Cesarewitch is the one of the biggest betting heats of the year and we don’t see this years renewal being any different.

Askar Tau is the well backed ante post favourite and available at 9/2 with the sponsors. Well in at the weights and off the back of a five timer it will take all the beating.

At longer odds, Daraahem at 25/1 catches the eye. barring the obvious question marks over the distance, he won in fine style in the mud at Haydock last time out and trainer Barry Hills knows what it takes to win a big handicap.

Last year’s runner up Carraciola is another interesting runner. The Nicky Henderson trained Cheltenham Festival veteran is a big price at 40/1 despite the weight and is sure to be staying on at the death.

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The Geoffrey Freer run over 1m 5f 61yds looks a highly interesting race. It has been a very good heat for fancied runners with five of the last 10 favourites obliging.

The trainers with the best record over the last decade have been Sir Michael Stoute with two wins from six runners (he won last year with 6/4 favourite Papal Bull). Geoff Wragg one win from two entries, John Dunlop with one win and two placed from five runners and Mark Johnston with one win and one placed from three entries.

Recent form is not so important with only 20% having won their previous race and 50% being placed.

The enigmatic Geordieland is probably the best horse in the race but having passed the post only once in front in the past three years (a slowly run Group 2 at York in May - for which he now carries a 4lb penalty) he is hard to fancy.

Of more interest is the Jeremy Noseda-trained Sixties Icon. Lightly raced since winning the St Leger when it was run at York in 2006 his recent form has been excellent. Given a fine ride by Johnny Murtagh at Goodwood he stayed on well over 1m 4f to narrowly beat Galactic Star and Lion Sands. 2lbs worse off now it may well be closer here.

The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Eastern Anthem has definite possibilities if turning out here. Very lightly raced the stoutly bred colt by Singspiel impressed when staying on well at Newmarket over 1m 4f on July 25 to beat Munsef by 10l. He will be well suited by the step up in distance here and is the selection.

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While most winners of this race have been prominent in the betting no favourites have obliged in the last 10 years. Recent form is most important with 70% having won their last race and 90% having been placed. The most successful trainer by some way in the past decade has been Barry Hills with a very impressive 4 wins from 8 runners.

Other successful trainers have been Clive Brittain - 1 winner, 1 placed from 5 runners, and Richard Hannon with 1 win from 4 entries.

The one that jumps off the page here is the John Gosden-trained Dynaformer filly - Rainbow View. Stoutly bred she is from the same family as Raven’s Pass who went so close to winning last week’s Sussex Stakes.

A late foal (May 21) she made her debut over course and distance on July 18. Held up, she was produced over 1f out and running on strongly was six lengths clear of the line. She did hang left but this can be attributed to greenness. She has been working well at Newmarket and with Gosden’s record of improving 2-y-o’s for their first run she must have a very good chance here.

It would be nice to see the very progressive filly Rosabee from the small yard of Vicky Haigh win. A very cheap purchase at 4,400 euros she has been a revelation winning 3 of her last 4 races. She was only beaten a length last time by the very useful African Skies, however she may have to give way to the classier Gosden filly on Saturday.

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This has been a good race for the market leader with four wins and three seconds over the last 10 years. Four of the most successful trainers over the same period have been Marcus Tregoning with 3 wins from 5 runners, Sir Michae Stoute with 2 winners from 5, Mick Channon with 1 winner from 2 and Mark Johnston with 1 victor from 7 entries.

Recent form has been important with 45% having won their previous race and a similar percentage having been placed. Two worth a second look are the Mark Johnston-trained 4-y-o colt by Peintre Celebre - Hearthstead Maison - and the Saeed Bin Suroor handled - Stage Gift.

Hearthstead Maison made a highly promising seasonal debut on July 19 when 4l behind the classy Henry Cecil-trained Passage Of Time when conceding 11lbs. Turned out a week later at York he ran a respectable race when sixth to Pipedreamer.

That race probably came too soon. With the Johnston stable now firing on all cylinders he looks to have a very good chance.

The Godolphin gelding by Cadeaux Genereux - Stage Gift is a very interesting runner. Previously with Sir Michael Stoute he joined the Godolphin operation last year and was most progressive.

He won a Group 3 at longchamp in June followed by a Group 2 at York on heavy ground the following month. He was well beaten by Many Volumes on his return at Sandown on July 4. However, he invariably needs a run to bring him to his peak and he was probably unsuited by the fast ground that day.

With plenty of rain forecast he is likely to have his ideal conditions on Saturday and he is the selection.

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