On this week's What A Shout, host Dave Orton was joined by owner Max McNeill, Racing Post tipster Paul Kealy and bet365's Pat Cooney as they previewed the racing from Aintree, Down Royal and Wincanton on Saturday.
The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase, Champion Chase and Elite Hurdle are some of the feature races on a busy Saturday of racing, with all three to be broadcast on ITV Racing.
We've picked out some highlights from this week's edition of What A Shout in association with bet365, with all the weekend racing set to be shown on the Sports Live Streaming service.
Grade One winner Frodon can show his class off top weight Says Kealy
| What: | Badger Beer Handicap Chase |
| Where: | Wincanton |
| When: | 1.50, Saturday 5th November |
| How to watch: | ITV and bet365's Sports Live Streaming |
| Odds: | Frodon 7/2, Enrilo 9/2, Lord Accord 5/1, Cap Du Nord 13/2, Potterman 10/1 |
Frodon won the Grade One Champion at Down Royal 12 months ago and rather than defend his crown in that race, connections have opted for the 61st Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton instead due to better ground at the course.
Kealy thinks Paul Nicholls' runner, the 10-year-old tops the betting at 7/2, can concede top weight to the rest of the field in the 3m1f contest.
He said: "The fact they were preparing Frodon for a Grade One contest at Down Royal suggests this horse will be ready for this opening start. He has a mark of 158 here, but you know he will be fit and jump well.
"I think he is the horse to beat, and he will be subject to a big gamble, going off much shorter than he is now.
"The danger is Irish Prophecy. They just went to the well a few times too many last season. He hacked up around this course last season and then was pulled up in this race just a couple of weeks later.
"He returns here a much fresher horse and off an 8lb lower mark than last year. As long as it stays fast ground, as he can't handle conditions which are too soft, he will be in with a great chance."
'Proper Aintree horse' Senior Citizen for Kealy in Grand Sefton
| What: | Grand Sefton Handicap Chase |
| Where: | Aintree |
| When: | 2.11, Saturday 6th November |
| How to watch: | ITV and bet365's Sports Live Streaming |
| Odds: | Two For Gold 13/2, Lifetime Ambition 7/1, Al Dancer 7/1, Senior Citizen 7/1, Jacamar 7/1 |
The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is the first chance to see the Grand National fences in use at Aintree this season and Kealy is turning to a horse who has a good record over the bigger obstacles in Senior Citizen.
Alan King's chaser is 7/1 to land the 2m5f contest at 2.11 and Kealy believes he represents a great each-way bet.
He said: "The more I look at this race, the more I like Senior Citizen. He ran in the race second time out last year and he finished runner-up to Mac Tottie. This chaser is a very good Aintree horse, as he was also third in the Topham in 2021.
"His record first time out is very good. He is an each-way price and if something beats him fair enough, but I expect him to be in the frame."
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Conflated the best horse in race Says Kealy
| What: | Champion Chase |
| Where: | Down Royal |
| When: | 2.32, Saturday 5th November |
| How to watch: | ITV and bet365's Sports Live Streaming |
| Odds: | Galvin 11/10, Conflated 11/4, Kemboy 11/2, Envoi Allen 8/1, Beacon Edge 12/1 |
The Group One Champion Chase over 3m is the feature race at Down Royal but has just five runners declared, including last year's runner-up Galvin.
Conflated is second best in the betting at 11/4 to score at the highest level for the second time in his career. Kealy is backing the Gigginstown runner to come out on top for trainer Gordon Elliott.
He said: "I think Conflated is easily the best horse in the race and he should be the favourite. Galvin has previous in the race, but Conflated's form is much better generally.
"The plan with the horse later in the season will be to run in the two grade One 3m chases at Leopardstown. One is around Christmas and the other is in February. He has already won one of those races as he scored in the Irish Gold Cup last season by over six lengths."
Sceau Royal to win a record-extending fourth Elite Hurdle
| What: | Elite Hurdle |
| Where: | Wincanton |
| When: | 3.00, Saturday 5th November |
| How to watch: | ITV and bet365's Sports Live Streaming |
| Odds: | Sceau Royal 11/10, Knappers Hill 9/4, Milkwood 11/2, Knight Salute 8/1 |
The Grade Two Elite Hurdle is one of the feature races at Wincanton on Saturday. It includes just four runners, one of which is Sceau Royal, who has won it three times, including in 2020 and 2021.
He is 11/10 to defend his crown, with Knappers Hill being next best in the betting at 9/4.
Kealy believes the favourite will be hard to beat in a race he has dominated over the years.
He said: "I love Sceau Royal. He is the best horse in the race and the ground is going to suit him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go off odds-on.
"Even as a 10-year-old, this horse has a turn of foot which not many have at his age. His connections must have been delighted when they turned this race into a graded contest.
"He won this contest as a four-year-old when it was a handicap. It is hard to look past him prevailing for the fourth time, as he has just three rivals to beat."
