Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m looking ahead to Saturday’s Virgin Bet Grand National Trial at Haydock. Plus, there's a selection from this evening's Kempton card.
Saturday’s big race action comes from three tracks: Ascot, Haydock, and Wincanton.
The best race quality wise is Ascot’s Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase (3.35). It seems likely that Venetia Williams will run main British trained Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful L'Homme Presse. His potential rivals include Fakir D'Oudairies, Pic D'Orhy and Ahoy Senor.
It’s now an eight-race card at Haydock where the feature is the Virgin Bet Grand National Trial (3.15). There were 13 entries for the race at Monday’s final confirmation stage. They include previous course winners Iron Bridge and Famous Bridge. Recent Warwick Classic Chase winner My Silver Lining could also line-up as could 2021 Welsh Grand National winner Iwilldoit.
Down at Wincanton there were seven entries for the Grade 2 Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle (2:05). The entries include likely favourite Rubaud, Nemean Lion and the mercurial Goshen who won the race in 2021 & 2022.
Although more rain is forecast for this week. The good news is all three racecourses are not anticipating any problems on the weather front and racing should go ahead.
ITV Racing are covering the best of the action from Ascot, Haydock, and Wincanton on a nine-race programme on the main ITV channel.
Haydock: Virgin Bet Grand National Trial – 3m 4 ½ f
Back in the day when Haydock had big imposing, drop fences the race was rightly considered a good Grand National Trial. Today the Haydock fences are no longer fearsome’ However, the same thing can be said of the Aintree National Fences.
Trends:
Looking through the race trends at Horseracebase which contain 16 winners from 2002 runners, 50 placed.
Fifteen of the 16 winners of the race had the following traits:
N.B. All 16 winners met the Age, Best in Ten Runs and Chase wins trends.
Trainers:
Six of the last 16 winners of the race were trained by Venetia Williams and Lucinda Russell.
Lucinda Russell doesn’t have an entry in this year’s race. But Ventia Williams who saddled last year’s winner has two entries in previous course winner Fontaine Collonges and Chambard.
Contenders:
There was one less entry for this year’s race than ran 12 months ago and it may struggle to get more than ten runners this year.
Welsh Grand National Runner-up Iron Bridge just heads the ante post betting from Warwick’s Classic Chase winner My Silver Lining. Of the pair I prefer the claims of the latter who improved for the step up to 3m 5f last time and is unexposed over marathon trips.
Iwilldoit was one place and a length behind Iron Bridge in the Welsh Grand National and is 2lb better off. He’s likely to give his running once again but Iron Bridge might be capable of more progress.
Famous Bridge never got going dropped back to 3m and good ground when pulling up in Doncaster Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase three weeks ago. The 7-year-old is 2-2 at Haydock and softer ground and a step up 3m 4f should see him in a better light.
Guetapan Collonges is a consistent staying handicap chaser but looks held by My Silver Lining on their Classic Chase form
Possible Irish challenger Yeah Man was a strong finishing ¾-length 2nd of 10 to Victtorino in Premier Handicap at Ascot (3m) last time. He’s interesting stepped up in distance but he’s 0-8 over fences.
Fontaine Collonges wasn’t at her best when well beaten by My Silver Lining at Warwick 35 days ago. The mare is better judged on her win in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby two starts back. A previous course winner she was a beaten favourite in last year’s race when the ground wasn’t soft enough. She can’t be totally dismissed if getting genuinely soft ground, but this could be too competitive for her.
Virgin Bet Grand National Trial Verdict:
My Silver Lining improved for the step up in trip last time. Provided she didn’t have to hard a race last time I think she’s got a good chance of following up. Famous Bridge’s had looked a progressive staying handicap chase and if you forgive his last run would be in the mix. Iwilldoit should give his running and is a contender. As is Irish challenger Yeah Man if he stays this new distance? Venetia Williams has won this three times so Fontaine Collonges would be worthy of consideration.
Wednesday Preview
I will conclude today’s main piece with a selection.
The race of the day is the Class 2 Try Unibet's Improved Bet Builder Handicap (7:00)) at Kempton this evening. The market for this Class 2 handicap is headed by Chipstead who won over C&D two starts back. Chipstead has solid enough claims, but I just prefer new favourite Batal Dubai. The 4-year-old is a consistent all-weather sprinter who returned from an 11 month absence to finish a respectable off 2 ¾ length 3rd of 13 to Albasheer at Newcastle 44 days ago. I have to say I was looking for bigger than 15/8 about his chance but he looks the one for early money.
Wednesday Selection:
7:00 – Batal Dubai – 15/8 @ SkyBet.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John