Evening all,

The week finishes with some excellent racing and ITV4 are covering the best of the action from Aintree and Limerick where the feature race is the Ladbrokes Munster National (3:35). The feature race at Aintree is the Grade 2 Jewson Old Roan Handicap Chase (2.40). There’s been rain at Aintree which has eased the ground to good, good to soft in places. The rain that fell over the last few days across Ireland arrived at Limerick and the ground there is being described as yielding to soft.

Inside today’s main piece I preview two of the big races at Aintree and the Munster National.

Aintree

Besides the Grade 2 Old Roan Handicap Chase there’s also Leg 8 of the Veterans' Handicap Chase Series (2:05) and there’s a competitive looking Class 2 handicap hurdle (3:15).

Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans' Handicap Chase (Leg 8 Of The Veterans' Chase Series) (2:05)

If the Cap Fits didn’t look a natural over fences on four starts for Harry Fry. The 10-year-old is now with David Pipe and returns from wind surgery. He starts off for his new yard a very well handicapped horse on his first start in veterans company.

Dingo Dollar was rejuvenated for the switch to the Sandy Thomson yard finishing runner-up in the 2021 Scottish Grand National off todays mark. Best effort last season in a light campaign came when 3^rd of 12 in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November. First run since unseating his rider in the Grand National and is high on the shortlist.

Wishing And Hoping won this race last year from 7lb lower. That win came off 156-days layoff and he return from 197-day break here. Got an easy lead 12 months ago and should go close if he gets it again.

Minellacelebration ended last season with a comfortable success in Leg Six of the series at Flenham in April.  Up 6lb for that success but the 12-year-old he won this race in 2020 off a higher mark. He’s not as good as he was but he’s 3-5 over C&D and must be respected on a sound surface.

The likes of Potters Legend and Cloth Cap both lurk on good marks and can’t be dismissed. Meanwhile former useful hurdler Le Patriote, 2-6 over fences, returns from a 615-day absence and is interesting on his first start in veterans race.

Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (2:40)

Just the eight have been declared for the day’s feature but it looks an above average renewal of the race. The bookies have made Hitman the favourite. Trainer Paul Nicholls thinks he can win in Grade 1 company and although he carries top weight here a mark of 159 looks a winnable one. He’s had a wind-op since finishing runner-up to Fakir D'oudairies in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase over C&D in April.

It’s not a one horse race

Millers Bank won the Grade 1 Melling Chase over C&D in April. Not as good at the Punchestown Festival on next start but likely his Aintree win took more from him than connections thought However, he’s back from a break and this looks a good starting point for the 8-year-old.

Do Your Job ended last season a novice chaser on the up, winning at Newcastle before beating four rivals in Grade 2 novice chase at Ayr in April. That race probably didn’t take much winning, but he impressed with his jumping and attitude. Two from two when returning from a 121-365-day break so goes well fresh.

Of the rest. Riders Onthe Storm has the back class to be involved off his present mark. The 9-year-old best run came on his seasonal reappearance when a 3 ¼ length 2^nd of 10 over C&D last December off 8lb higher.  Previous C&D winner Captain Tom Cat won a Grade 2 at Wincanton last November. He has race fitness on his side after a spin over hurdles at Hexham 23-days ago. In the mix of he gets his favoured good ground.

Beakstown is 4lb out of the weights but is weighted to be competitive and hasn’t been out of the places on his four starts since returning from 121-day layoff.  Soldier Of Destiny moderate over hurdles showed he’s a much better chaser winning two of his four starts over the larger obstacles last season. Up in class and 2lb out of the handicap on seasonal return but looks capable of better for a trainer in fantastic form. A solid jumper of a fence he can win races this season off his present mark.

Limerick

JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade A) (3:35)

A maximum field of 16 for the Limerick feature which has €53,100 on offer to the winner. There will be better staying handicap chases over the coming weeks. However, there will be few that are as competitive as this. Not counting the reserves just 3lb separates nine of the 16 of the runners on the RPR’s. Closeness of the rating shows what a trappy looking renewal it is.

Taking a quick dip into the trends: Ten of the last 14 winners of the race where aged six or seven which is 71% of the winners from 38% of the total runners.

All fourteen winners had finished 1^st or 2^nd in one of their last three runs (those who didn’t are 0 winners from 73 runners).

Shortlist:

Velvet Elvis a winner at Navan in March. He posted a career best over fences on RPR’s when a solid 8 length 6^th of 27 in the Irish Grand National last time. That was just his 5^th start over fences and given his inexperience it was a cracking effort by the 6-year-old. There’s a good pot in him over this winter.

Martin Meade can prepare a handicap chaser to win on their seasonal reappearance. As he did with School Boy Hours to win last seasons Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown. He saddles Lieutenant Command who looked set to go close when unseating his rider two out in a novices handicap chase at Naas in February. Came down at the first at Punchestown two months later. He’s on a winnable mark when he puts it altogether over fences.

Donkey Years has been well backed. The 8-year-old gained some well-deserved compensation for consistent efforts in handicap chases when winning over 3m at the Punchestown Festival. Likely needed the run when only 9th of 11 at Listowel last month. The cheekpieces he wore at Punchestown return and much better expected.

Max Flamingo returned from a summer break with an encouraging 4 length 3rd of 5 at Tipperary over an inadequate 2m 3 ½ f, three weeks ago. The return to 3m is a plus and the 8-year-old capable of big run back in handicap company with Paddy O’Hanlon taking off a handy 5lb.

Darrens Hope a winner of a beginners chase Tipperary in May. She bounced back from a lesser run after a break when 2^nd of 5 at Galway last time. Back in handicap company today an up in trip. The mare has run in only two handicap chases but has been placed in both and is considered.

Sunday Selection:

A poor run from yesterday’s selection Tomfre. He had his conditions at Doncaster unless it wasn’t heavy enough for him. He either has a physical problem or has just lost his love for racing. I suspect it’s the latter. The memories of all those winners of just a couple of weeks ago are fading quickly.  Onto Sunday selection which comes from Aintree and the veterans chase.

If The Cap Fits is very well handicapped if David Pipe has got his jumping sorted out. However, I’m taking a chance that Sandy Thomson has Dingo Dollar fit and ready for his seasonal return.

Aintree

2:05 – Dingo Dollar – 8/1 @ Bet365.

Good luck with your Sunday bets.

John