All Sports Tips · Saturday racing preview
Saturday Racing Tips: Molyneux Hurdle, Rising Stars Chase & November Handicap
Previews and selections for the two Grade 2 jumps races at Aintree and the last big Flat handicap of the turf season at Doncaster.
The verdict: Talk To The Man (11/8) is our Best Bet in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase, as the one leading contender who has already won over fences. Alexei (6/5) has the best form in the Molyneux Hurdle, and Alfred Wincham (5/1) is our each-way pick for the November Handicap.
- Saturday’s racing
- Molyneux Hurdle
- Rising Stars Chase
- November Handicap
- Best Bet & accas
- FAQ
- Our selections
Saturday 7 November: where the big races are
Saturday’s jumps action has moved north. Wincanton’s Badger Chase Ladies’ Day was abandoned because of firm ground, and Exeter’s Haldon Gold Cup card on Friday was lost as well.
The Jockey Club has moved the feature races from both meetings to a two-day fixture at Aintree on Friday and Saturday, at their original prize money.
That makes Aintree’s Saturday card much stronger than usual: the William Hill Molyneux Hurdle (the race formerly run as Wincanton’s Elite Hurdle) and the Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase are now both on Merseyside. Doncaster closes the Flat turf season with the November Handicap.
In Ireland, Gowran Park races, but there are no graded races there on Saturday.
Aintree’s going is good to soft, good in places, and the course is watering. Doncaster is soft, good to soft in places. We checked the Aintree fields on Thursday 5 November after the 10:00 declaration time. Several jockeys were still to be named, so every selection below is subject to the horse running. If you want to read more about how ground affects these races, see our going explained guide.
Saturday’s three feature races at a glance
William Hill Molyneux Hurdle (Grade 2)
- Time (UK)
- 1.45pm
- Course
- Aintree
- Distance
- 2m209y
- Runners
- 6
Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
- Time (UK)
- 2.25pm
- Course
- Aintree
- Distance
- 2m3f200y
- Runners
- 12
November Handicap (Class 2)
- Time (UK)
- 3.25pm
- Course
- Doncaster
- Distance
- 1m3f197y
- Runners
- 23 (final field)
Prices: bet365 UK via racing-odds.com, checked about 09:18 GMT Fri 6 Nov 2026. Sources: The Jockey Club press release, 27 Oct 2026; Racing Post, Sporting Life and Racing TV racecards for runners, jockeys, times and going.
1.45 Aintree: Molyneux Hurdle preview
Only six were declared for the Molyneux Hurdle, a Grade 2 over two miles and a furlong with nine flights to jump. The base weight is 11st, with penalties for recent winners and a 7lb allowance for fillies and mares. Paul Nicholls won the race last year with Rubaud, but he isn’t among this year’s entries.
Alexei tops the ratings in a six-runner field
Alexei (Joe Tizzard, ridden by Brendan Powell, OR158) is the highest rated in the race and carries 11st 4lb, including a penalty. Mydaddypaddy (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton, OR153) was third at the Cheltenham Festival, beaten a length and a half, and was second over this course and distance last winter.
Mange Tout (Gordon Elliott, OR138) is a four-year-old filly who won over this course and distance at the Grand National meeting in April and gets plenty of weight. Lucky Place (Nicky Henderson, OR151) finished second of four at Sandown in April.
Melon and Morning Mayhem have it all to do on ratings.
WIN
ALEXEI 6/5
- Race: Molyneux Hurdle (Grade 2)
- Time: Aintree 1.45pm
- Odds: 6/5 (bet365)
- Stake: 1 point win
Alexei has the best form in this race. He beat Rubaud, who went on to win this race last year, by a length and a quarter at Wincanton in February.
He followed that with fourth behind Lossiemouth at the Cheltenham Festival and then third behind Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion over two and a half miles here in April. Even with the penalty, he is still a pound clear of Mydaddypaddy on official ratings.
The Tizzard yard has had 12 winners from 42 runners in the last three weeks. There are three things against him. He hasn’t run for 212 days. His Wincanton win was on heavy, and this is likely to be good ground. And with only six runners, a non-runner could leave a small field that’s hard to call.
bet365 is now 6/5 for Alexei (via racing-odds.com, checked Friday morning).
2.25 Aintree: Rising Stars Novices’ Chase preview
This Grade 2 novice chase over two miles and three and a half furlongs was moved from Wincanton. It has 12 runners. Last year it went to Paul Nicholls with Blueking D’Oroux. The betting is led by two horses that are very different on what they’ve done over fences.
Unexposed hurdlers against proven chasers
No Drama This End (Nicholls, Sam Twiston-Davies, OR144, 11/8) has won five of his seven runs in Britain over hurdles, but he has never run in a chase. He was pulled up as favourite at Cheltenham in March, then came back to win at Perth in April.
Cristal d’Estruval (Harry Derham) has won both his hurdle starts. He cost £400,000 but hasn’t run for 328 days. Crystal Island (Henderson, Nico de Boinville) has also won both his hurdle starts.
Neither has run over fences. Chanceawetmorning (Elliott, 10/1) has won two chases in Ireland this autumn, the latest at Punchestown. Dan Skelton’s Royal Infantry won a three-runner chase at Hexham, but has no jockey named yet.
WIN
TALK TO THE MAN 11/8
- Race: Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
- Time: Aintree 2.25pm
- Odds: 11/8 (bet365)
- Stake: (1 point win) · Best Bet of the Day
Talk To The Man (Harry Skelton) won his first chase at Worcester on 21 October, over two and a half miles on good to soft. He beat Klimt Madrik by four and a quarter lengths, and that form ties in with No Drama This End, who beat Klimt Madrik by a length and a quarter over hurdles at Newbury.
Talk To The Man has had a recent run and has already won over fences, which counts for a lot in a race where most of the market has yet to jump a fence in public.
He won over a similar trip at Newbury in February, and Dan Skelton’s horses are in form, with 29 winners from 136 runners in the last three weeks. Against him: Worcester was only a six-runner race, and he was pulled up on his only previous run at Aintree, over three miles in April.
3.25 Doncaster: November Handicap preview
The November Handicap is run over a mile and a half and is worth £38,655 to the winner. It is usually one of the most competitive handicaps of the year. The final field is 23. Castle Cove, last year’s winner on heavy ground, is in again for William Haggas, but he hasn’t run for 364 days. Soft ground will suit the stayers.
The market leaders: a short favourite and a soft-ground winner
Nobody Knows (Richard Hughes, 3/1) is a three-year-old. He was fifth of 18 at York last month and has yet to race over a mile and a half, so 3/1 is short for a horse with that to prove.
Too Soon (Jamie & Josh Moore, 8/1) won on soft ground over a mile and a half at both Epsom and Goodwood this summer and is respected. Atherstone Warrior (10/1) finished third in this race last year but has been off for 223 days.
Lord Melbourne (10/1) has won over this course and distance before.
EACH-WAY
ALFRED WINCHAM 5/1
- Race: November Handicap (Class 2)
- Time: Doncaster 3.25pm
- Odds: 5/1 (bet365)
- Draw: stall 10
- Stake: 1 point EW (0.5pt each way)
Alfred Wincham is an improving four-year-old by Dubawi. Last time out he won a 12-runner handicap at York by eight lengths, over an extended mile and five furlongs on good to soft, soft in places. Before that he was second over this course and distance in September.
So he has won on easy ground and been placed over this trip at Doncaster. The obvious worry is the handicapper. He has gone up 13lb to 94, and he is on 9st 2lb. He won by such a wide margin at York that he can probably cope with some of the rise.
He’s drawn in stall 10 in the 23-runner field. Patrick Neville’s runner is down to be ridden by Oisin Orr, who was on board at York. This morning he’s 5/1 with bet365, a bit bigger than the 9/2 we had on Thursday, though some firms may still go bigger.
We’ve left out Doncaster’s Listed Wentworth Stakes and Gillies Fillies’ Stakes. Neither race gave us a selection we could back with confidence at this stage.
Best Bet of the Day and Saturday accumulators
BEST BET OF THE DAY
TALK TO THE MAN 11/8
- Race: Rising Stars Novices’ Chase
- Time: Aintree 2.25pm
- Odds: 11/8 (bet365)
- Stake: (1 point win)
He’s the only one of the market leaders to have already won over fences, he has a recent run, and the form of his Worcester win ties in with the favourite’s. That is why he’s our strongest bet of the day.
Win double: Talk To The Man + Alfred Wincham
- Races: Aintree 2.25 + Doncaster 3.25
- Odds: approx 13.25/1 (bet365 prices)
- Stake: 0.5 points
Legs: Talk To The Man (Aintree 2.25, 11/8) and Alfred Wincham (Doncaster 3.25, 5/1), both to win. Combined odds: 2.375 × 6.0 = 14.25 in decimal, so roughly 13.25/1 at the prices we checked. We’ve left Alexei (6/5) out of this double to keep it to two legs.
Place double: Talk To The Man + Alfred Wincham
- Races: Aintree 2.25 + Doncaster 3.25
- Odds: approx 2/1 (bet365 place odds)
- Stake: 1 point
Legs: Talk To The Man to be placed at Aintree 2.25 and Alfred Wincham to be placed at Doncaster 3.25. On bet365’s standard each-way terms that is 2 places at 1/4 for the Rising Stars (5–6 runners; Talk To The Man place price 11/32 from 11/8) and 4 places at 1/4 for the November Handicap (23-runner handicap; Alfred Wincham place price 5/4 from 5/1). Combined place odds about 2/1. Extra places on the day would improve the terms — check your bet slip. Our each-way betting guide explains how place terms work.
Saturday racing FAQ
Why are Wincanton’s big races at Aintree?
Wincanton’s 7 November card was abandoned because of firm ground. The Jockey Club has moved its feature races, along with Exeter’s, to Aintree on 6 and 7 November.
What time is the Molyneux Hurdle?
1.45pm UK time on Saturday 7 November at Aintree. The Rising Stars Novices’ Chase follows at 2.25pm.
What time is the November Handicap?
3.25pm UK time at Doncaster on Saturday 7 November.
Are the runners confirmed?
Aintree’s fields were declared on Thursday 5 November, though several jockeys were still to be named. The November Handicap final field is 23; Alfred Wincham is in and drawn in stall 10.
What is your Best Bet on Saturday?
Talk To The Man in the 2.25 at Aintree, at 11/8 with bet365 when we checked on Friday morning.
Are there any graded races in Ireland on Saturday?
No. Gowran Park is Ireland’s only Saturday meeting, and it has no graded races.
Our Selections
Saturday 7 November 2026 · Aintree & Doncaster · prices checked 09:18 Fri 6 Nov. 18+ · BeGambleAware.org
- WIN
ALEXEI 6/5
Race: Molyneux Hurdle
Time: Aintree 1.45pm
Odds: 6/5 (bet365)
Stake: 1 pt win
- WIN · BEST BET
TALK TO THE MAN 11/8
Race: Rising Stars Novices’ Chase
Time: Aintree 2.25pm
Odds: 11/8 (bet365)
Stake: (1 point win)
- EACH-WAY
ALFRED WINCHAM 5/1
Race: November Handicap
Time: Doncaster 3.25pm
Odds: 5/1 (bet365)
Draw: stall 10
Stake: 1 pt EW (0.5 e/w)
- WIN DOUBLE
TALK TO THE MAN + ALFRED WINCHAM
Races: Aintree 2.25 + Doncaster 3.25
Odds: approx 13.25/1 (bet365)
Stake: 0.5 pts
- PLACE DOUBLE
TALK TO THE MAN + ALFRED WINCHAM
Races: Aintree 2.25 + Doncaster 3.25
Odds: approx 2/1 (bet365; 2 places @ 1/4 & 4 places @ 1/4)
Stake: 1 pt
Prices are bet365 UK via racing-odds.com, quotes taken at about 09:18 GMT Fri 6 Nov 2026 and are likely to change. Alexei is 6/5 with bet365; place-double terms use bet365’s standard each-way rules (check the slip for any extra places). 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
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