The Weekend Preview
By Red
Red looks forward towards the big races at Sandown & Aintree, including two grade ones and and the Becher Chase on the Grand National track.
Sadly, the Tingle Creek field has been decimated by injuries and fitness concerns with Sprinter Sacre, Un De Sceaux and Simonsig all fancied runners who pulled out not long before the event. It means the market has been tipped upside it's head several times this week. Only seven are declared to run at this late stage, with Josses Hill a late addition to the dwindling field. The eye is immediately drawn to the top of the betting where Vibrato Valtat is currently the 9/4 (best price) market leader. He is the youngster of the field and showed he's in good nick with a win in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter a month ago. If the ground turns up soft, he should be the one to beat. However, at the time of writing, the going on the chase course is listed as good to soft and as a general rule, the chase course holds up better at Sandown. One who does like the going to be a bit better is Special Tiara and Henry De Bromhead's charge has shortened significantly since Un de Sceaux's withdrawal. He was 25/1 at the start at the week and the best price now is 5/1 and in most places less than that. He didn't seem quite right last time out though and the worry would be that he's not quite in top shape. So my selection is going to be the veteran of the field in Somersby. Second in the Schloer Chase to a rejuvenated Sprinter Sacre, the old boy showed that he's got life in him yet. He hasn't won in a while, but has always been there, or thereabouts and odds of 12/1 (best odds) are way big. Fascinating to see that Nina Carberry takes the ride. She's an excellent jockey and someone who I have a lot of time for. I'm sure she'll give the selection a good ride and let's hope he rewards her with the spoils at the finish
Earlier on the card, there is the other Grade One race of the day, the Henry VIII novices chase. As De Mee is yet to win over fences, but he's bumped into a very good prospect in More of That last time out. I'm sure he will win over fences at some point in his career, but I think tomorrow is not that day. He may well bump into another good one here in Bristol De Mai. Nigel Twiston-Davies four-year old gets weight from As De Mee and also Willow's Saviour and has already notched up a win over fences last time out. He was also second to another well fancied runner in Garde La Victoire. He will enjoy the good to soft ground and Daryl Jacob takes the ride once again. Willow's Saviour is an interesting runner and although he's won his last four races, he can be a bit quirky. The Skelton yard is in good form though and he's not easily dismissed, but Bristol De Mai will be the selection.
Over at Aintree, we look at two races as well. Firstly the Becher Chase over National fences. It's a good field and it may well be the best race of the day. A number of former National fancies and even a winner are in this and it should be a cracker. Former National winner Pineau de Re shaped like he hasn't lost any of his ability last time out at Sandown, but he'll have to defy the recent curse of winning the Grand National. No horse that has won the Grand National since 2002 has gone on to win a handicap race afterwards. Algernon Phazam is another interesting runner, but he's a temperamental sort and I wouldn't count on him. My selection has fallen on Saint Are, second in the National this year and a pleasing reapparance on the cross country course at Cheltenham last time out. He wasn't hard pressed, but still finished sixth and that could well be a great pipe opener for this. At 9/1 he looks a reasonable price. For an each way option, I'd look towards Portrait King who shaped well in the National before falling and could be refreshed running for a new yard. He's at 16/1
Finally a quick look at the Grand Sefton where I'm with last years winner Poole Master. The Pipe yard seem to be picking up some form of late with a few good winners and this one gets weight from a few more fancied runners in the betting, like Double Ross. A repeat of last years efforts will see the selection right in the mix for this and at 8/1 it's a decent bet
Sandown 1.55 Bristol De Mai 13/8
Sandown 3.00 Somersby 12/1
Aintree 1.40 Saint Are 9/1
Aintree 3.20 Poole Master 8/1
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