Quaddick Lake gave me another winner this afternoon so our good run continues.
Jumping takes centre stage over the next 3 days with the Grand National meeting at Aintree, probably my favourite meeting of the year.
Big Bucks will be odds on favourite to take the opener at 2.00 after his success in the World Hurdle. He has plenty going for him and is the clear form pic but sometimes Cheltenham form does not transfer itself to Aintree so we need to be a bit careful. Mighty Man is unbeaten at Aintree and probably poses the biggest threat.
Of the rest Duc de Regniere and Pettifour have both failed to build on early season successes. Of the pair I favour Duc de Regniere who missed Cheltenham and should appreciate both ground and track.
In the 2.35 Starluck will have his supporters as he looks to have conditions very much in his favour. He certainly has every chance but for my selection I am going for the Paul Nicholls trained Hebridean who has been aimed at this race for some time and will like the ground. One perhaps for a small each way interest is recent Plumpton winner first avenue who was a decent performer on the flat.
Denman (pictured below) captured the hearts of the racing public with his gallant 2nd in the Gold Cup. He seeks to ends his truncated season on a winning note in the 3.10. He acts on the ground OK although the track may be on the sharp side for him. The main danger may come from Exotic Dancer who has a consistent record at the track but I will stick with Denman.
In the 4.20 I will put forward a trio of possible. The grey Pasco wa a disappointment at Cheltenham but may not have been suited by the track. He should be more at home at Aintree and looks to have a chance. Oh Crick was a Cheltenham winner so certainly comes into this race in good form. He looks a progressive sort and is suited by good ground. The key to Killmackiloge seems to be to catch him fresh as he has won first time out for the last 3 seasons. He has had a rest now since winning at Wetherby in November and does look as though he has been aimed at this race.
Easy Cheltenham winner Chapoturgeon will like as not be a warm order in the 4.55. However he does not look great value stepped up in class and there are plenty more in with chances. Ouzbeck will love the ground and has been dropped 4 lbs by the assessor since his last run. Gauvain was a winner at Sandown a couple of runs ago and was far from disgraced when 6th in the Arkle. Calgary Bay let his supporters down in the Arkle but should find the extra distance here to his liking. He is one to consider with the Champ on board. Tartak and Planer of Sound were 5th and 3rd respectively in the Arkle and these two would be my main fancies. I will give slight preference to Planet of Sound who has not done much wrong this season and goes well racing left handed.
8 out of the last 10 winners of the 5.30 have started at 10/1 are bigger so perhaps we should keep an eye on some of the outsiders. At 20/1 last year’s winner Auroras Encore could be of interest. He is 6 lbs higher this time round but is in good form having won at Carlisle on his last start. Otage de Brion is overpriced at 50/1. All his acreer wins have come on good ground. He reverts to hurdles here after some disappointing efforts over fences. Mumbles Head was 3rd at Uttoxeter a couple of weeks ago when having his first run for nearly 2 years. He drops back in trip tomorrow though which may not be ideal.
Nearer the head of the market are the well fancied trio of Big Eared Fran, The Polomoche and Prince Taime. The latter was 3rd in the Imperial Cup and has since won over the fixed brush hurdles at Haydock. Big Eared Fran won at Sandown on Imperial Cup day and was then 3rd to Andytown at Cheltenham in the conditional jockey’s race. He will like the ground. This is a very tough race but for my selection I have decided to go with The Polomoche who was not suited by the tacky ground at Cheltenham but will have conditions more to his liking tomorrow.
At Taunton my only selection is Prairie Spirit in the 5.15. He was an impressive winner at Hereford last week and looks the one to be on.
On the all weather at Kempton I will go for Pearl of Manacor to bounce back from a recent defeat over course and distance in the 7.55 where he will wear a visor nfor the first time.
There are some interesting runners at Leicester where I am hopeful of a few winners.
Starting at the 2.10 the Brocklesby runner up Archers Road will be the one they all have to beat.
In the 3.55 King’s Destiny, a winner at Lingfield in December should be all the better for a step up in trip and I would be very hopeful about his chances.
In the 4.30 there are a couple that I like. Cherish the Moment and Favours Brave both went into my notebook when finishing 6th on their only starts as juveniles.
Finally in the 5.05 Shemoli could go well at a big price.
Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.
ahorse 