This week’s notebook will be with you on Thursday evening or Friday morning. However, It’s Day 1 of the Randox Health Grand National Festival and I have couple of selections from today’s racing at Aintree.
Aintree
1:45 – La Bague Au Roi, who bypassed Cheltenham is the one they all have to beat in this 2m 4f Grade 1 novices’ chase. However, there are a couple who ran in the Arkle at recent Cheltenham Festival who could run her close.
Kalashnikov who has yet prove he’s a Grade 1 novice chaser, was in the process of running a big race when hampered and unseating his rider at the 6th. The step up to 2m 4f should be in his favour and he can go well.
Glen Forsa who his first three starts over fences before unseating his rider at the 4th in the Arkle. The 7-year-old has plenty of potential of improvement in him. The step back to further should be in his favour and I take him do to beat the favourite.
Glen Forsa – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:40 – A field of 18 are declared to go to post for what look like a competitive renewal of the 2m Red Rum Handicap Chase.
Eyecatcher Forest Bihan isn’t an easy horse to catch right but his 4th of 19 in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham means he must be respected again although he wouldn’t want the going to ease much further.
R’evelyn Pleasure, has improved for the switch to fences this season. Seemed to find the 2m 2f trip at Gowran Park on soft ground to much stamina wise but still ran well enough when 3rd of 11. The drop back to the minimum trip and slightly better ground will suit the 7-year-old but this a hotter race than he’s competed in so far. Still he’s got each way claims.
Theinval, trained by Nicky Henderson is a real spring horse, he was third in this race last year before going onto win at Ayr off 2lb lower. Hard to think that the 9-year-old won’t be in the money again.
Azzuri, hasn’t done much in his three starts this season since re-joining the Dan Skelton stable. He’s been weak in the betting on his last two starts but he’s a best priced 9/1. Not inconceivable that he’s been laid out for this and he’s a nicely handicapped horse if he bounces back today.
Paul Nicholls saddles Brelan D’As and Diego Du Charmil. Both have good chances the former was 3rd in the Grand Annual. Meanwhile the former returns to the scene of his C&D Grade 1 novices’ chase 12 months ago. The 7-year-old hasn’t reached last years best form on his three starts so far this season. He looked a promising young chaser last season and he would be on a potentially winnable mark if he was to be back to his very best here.
Verdict: R’evelyn Pleasure has each way claims, as does spring horse Theinval. Azzuri needs respecting given his strength in the ante-post betting and Diego Du Charmil could be the pick of the Nicholls pair.
R’evelyn Pleasure – 20/1 @ William Hill – each way (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Diego Du Charmil – 8/1 @ Coral & William Hill
Cheers
John