Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 7th November 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Doncaster & The Mandarin’s Aintree Picks

Doncaster

Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Wentworth Stakes (Listed) 2.10
Poatan
Right then, this isn’t Ascot’s Champions Stakes for George Scott’s Poatan, so he’s my pick for this Listed Wentworth Stakes. Don’t worry too much about his seventh place in that Group One last time out, where Rowan Scott made plenty of use of him to hit the front two furlongs out, before fading in the final furlong, cos Doncaster’s flat track ain’t so punishing and this is a humungous drop in grade, let’s be honest! There’s plenty of money about for Mick Appleby’s Coul Angel, who’s on a hat-trick after wins at the Curragh and York, and I reckon that’s justified, but here on Town Moor a good early position can pay off, so with Stall 18 giving Poatan an advantageous stand side run, and soft ground just what he wants, loads to like from here. William Haggas’s Montassib is likely to make a late run, and Ralph Beckett’s Zen Diva joins my list, but Poatan gets the vote!

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 2.45
Revoir
A bit of a puzzler this one, the Gillies Fillies’ Stakes, but I’d guess that Ralph Beckett’s Revoir is as good a bet as any. Reasons for: can cope with this soft ground, plenty of stamina to see out this 10 furlong trip, has an experience edge over John & Thady Gosdens’ I’m The One, who will have her supporters, and the yard has some form in this race. Ed Walker’s Felicitas has been edging it in the ante post market this week, but might find this softer ground not really ideal, and that could also be the case for Aidan O’Brien’s Justify filly, Moments Of Joy, so altogether a pretty open race I think. Yeah, easy peasy, Revoir to make the most of the ground and trip to score ahead of I’m The One and Moments Of Joy.

Virgin Bet November Handicap 3.25
Nobody Knows (nb)
Well, it’s gotta be Richard Hughes’ Nobody Knows to land this November Handicap, and if ya don’t believe me, just look at this Wootton Bassett colt’s finish at York last time out. Held up for the majority of that 10 furlong contest, Finley Marsh got Nobody Knows into a great stride from the 2 furlong pole, but was just left with too much to do to finish fifth. But, he was the one travelling best in that last quarter mile, so I’m saying that this extra trip is gonna be just what he wants, and Ryan Moore booked as passenger has gotta be a big plus. Last year’s winner, William Haggas’s Castle Cove has to be on your shortlist, and Mark Hoad’s Atherstone Warrior, third in this last year has the right conditions, but it has to be taken on trust that he’s fully tuned up after a seven month absence. Okay, Nobody Knows is a deserved favourite from my form book, especially with Ryan Moore in charge, so he gets the big tick from Jaysella with Castle Cove the one to watch.

Aintree

Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2.25
No Drama This End (nap)
Oh yes, no drama here as I tell you that Paul Nicholls can scoop this prize with No Drama This End. The Friday withdrawal of this week’s market favourite Chanceawetmorning leaves Dan Skelton’s Talk To The Man as the clear second favourite, and I do think this pair will be battling out this Grade Two, with Alan King’s Favour And Fortune also not unconsidered, despite coming late to chasing. No Drama This End, only beaten once over hurdles in the Turners Novices’ when the race was lost before it got started at the Cheltenham Festival in March, makes a highly anticipated debut over fences here. So despite Talk To The Man having looked very professional on his first start chasing at Worcester, I cannot get away from No Drama This End to make it a winning start in this discipline.

Play Licky Stable With William Hill Handicap Chase 3.35
Rodney
My big gamble of the day, but I have to nail my colours to Kerry Lee’s Rodney for this Handicap Chase. Got to justify that I guess, but this Golden Horn gelding looks well weighted to land this if ready to fire after a break of over nine months. To my mind, there’s a few here that have something to prove, so all in all an open contest given that there’s been plenty of rain about through Friday, and that could be a negative for some of these higher in the betting. Dan Skelton has a Midas Touch, as we know, so Boombawn gets onto my list, as does Jane Williams’s Knight Of Allen, but it’s my long-odds Saturday shot, and that is Rodney!