Morning can brighten up the afternoon in Topham April 8, 2021 SATURDAY’S Randox Grand National is a race still missing from trainer Nicky Henderson’s CV, but he has a good record in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase (4.05pm) over the famous fences. The master of Seven Barrows saddles a trio of contenders in a bid to land the contest for a sixth time with all three [...]
Clondaw Castle looks the call in the Bowl April 7, 2021 PLENTY expected Tiger Roll to return to Aintree this week, but not many predicted it would be in the Betway Bowl (2.50pm) rather than an attempt at a history-equalling third Randox Grand National victory. The evergreen 11-year-old rolled back the years with an emphatic fifth success at the Cheltenham Festival last month when pulverising his [...]
Destrier looks ready to strike in Red Rum April 7, 2021 AINTREE handicaps, like at Cheltenham, are always devilishly difficult puzzles to unravel and that looks the case with the 18-runner Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.40pm). Paul Nicholls’ Getaway Trump will be well fancied after his impressive win at Doncaster last month, but he has the burden of top weight which may prove too [...]
Eileendover looks a McFabulous bet at Aintree April 7, 2021 THURSDAY’S feature is the Betway Aintree Hurdle (3.25pm) and given only 10 pounds separates 10 of the 11 contenders on official ratings, the majority of the field can argue they have solid claims of taking the Grade 1 contest. Abacadabras looks likely to go off favourite, but the seven-year-old has plenty of questions to answer [...]
It could be Third Time Lucki for Eclair De Beaufeu March 18, 2021 CHELTENHAM handicaps are always complex puzzles to unravel, but in the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle (1.55pm) punters might as well just back Dan Skelton or Willie Mullins’ runners. Incredibly it’s 3-3 between the two yards in the last six years with no-one else having a look in since Paul Nicholls won it with Lac Fontana [...]
Gabynako can cap great meeting for Cromwell March 18, 2021 THERE may only be the eight runners in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm) but it promises to be one of the races of the meeting with exciting Irish juveniles Zanahiyr and Quilixios taking on recent Kempton winner Tritonic. The market suggests that Zanahiyr only has to turn up to win, but Fitzdares 6/5 favourite may [...]
Visor may just spark Santini back to life on the biggest stage March 18, 2021 ALL eyes will be on the Willie Mullins-trained Al Boum Photo as he looks to land his third consecutive WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.05pm). The nine-year-old has once again been wrapped up in cotton wool since landing the Festival feature 12 months ago with only the one prep race at Tramore on New Year’s Day. There is [...]
Mount the best Plan Of Attack in Kim Muir March 17, 2021 AFTER the meeting they have had already, it will be no surprise to hear that I’m sticking with the Irish when it comes to the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase (4.50pm). Normally restricted to amateur jockeys, the new Covid-19 rules surrounding elite sport mean that only the professional jockeys can ride at the meeting. Hold [...]
More Stars on show at Cheltenham March 17, 2021 BOOKMAKERS all over the land will be desperate to get Envoi Allen beaten in the opening Marsh Novices’ Chase (1.20pm) after the successes of Shishkin in the Sporting Life Arkle and Monkfish in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. The unbeaten Irish superstar is the final leg of plenty of short-priced trebles and I expect the [...]
Porter can floor his rivals in Stayers’ Hurdle March 17, 2021 A LARGE field of 15 is set to line up for Thursday’s highlight, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (3.05pm), where Paisley Park will bid to join the likes of Big Buck’s, Inglis Drever and Baracouda as dual winners of this race. Emma Lavelle’s stable star won the 2019 renewal impressively but he was a bitter [...]
