Hi all,
There’s a good Sunday card at Aintree this afternoon. We have Leg 8 Of The Veterans’ Chase Series (1:25). The jumps race of the weekend in the Grade 2 Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (2:00) and the Class 2 Jewson Handicap Hurdle (3:10).
Besides the Aintree races we also have decent looking Class 3 handicap chase at Wincanton (3:29).
Aintree
1:25 – Jewson Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m 1f
Jimmy The Digger won a Cheltenham handicap chase 12 months ago on his seasonal return and ran just as well on his next two starts. Pulled up at Cheltenham on final start (said to have bled) but goes well fresh likes good to soft ground and looks on a competitive mark on his first run in veterans’ company.
Cap Du Nord took advantage of declining mark to bounce back to winning ways at Ascot in February. Down the field on his seasonal return in veterans’ chase at Chepstow 16 days ago. Needs to have come on for that run but his last two wins have come off today’s mark so he can’t be discounted.
Wishing And Hoping won this corresponding race in 2021 and was runner-up in last year’s race on his seasonal return before going to win the Series Final at Sandown at the start of the year. The top-weight goes well fresh and will like the ground but at 13 he may be vulnerable to younger legs.
Boldmere returned from a 20 month absence to win Leg 2 of this series at Doncaster in February and ended the season with a win at Fakenham in April. Nudged up 2lb for his latest success but must be respected if ready to roll on his seasonal reappearance.
Nestor Park doesn’t find winning easy – 1 win from 15 starts over fences but he’s consistent enough having placed on eight occasions. Not disgraced when a 5 ½ length 3rd of 11 at Uttoxeter when last seen in action in May’ Likely to give his running for a yard among the winners and is a handy enough mark when all the cards fall right.
2:00 – Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 4f
A good sized field of 11 for the weekend’s feature race over jumps. Not only is the field size up to scratch but there is plenty of depth to it.
Hitman doesn’t always find much in a finish, but the top-weight is classy chaser on his day. He was only beaten a head in last year’s race on his seasonal return and is now 1lb lower. Must be high on the shortlist.
My Drogo won a Grade 1 hurdle here in April 2021 and looked a high class chase prospect when winning a Cheltenham novice chase in December 2021. It’s the 8-year-old’s first run for 687 days but he looks on a good mark on handicap chase debut and can go close if fully tuned up after his absence.
Tommy’s Oscar, a very useful hurdler gained a second success over fences when winning a Grade 2 novices chase at Doncaster in February. Looked better than ever when beating five rivals at Kelso (2m 1f) on his seasonal return three weeks ago. Now 5lb higher and back up in trip but goes well on a flat track and the trainer landed this with Nuts Well in 2020.
Do Your Job a useful novice chaser two seasons backwas sent off the 5/2 favourite for last year’s race and was going well before but a bad mistake four out ended his race. Not at his best on two subsequent starts and starts the new season with some questions to answer. First run since switching to Lucinda Russell and wind surgery and could go well off a handy mark if back to his best.
Datsalrightgino won two of his eight starts over fences last season and posted a career best on RPR’s when winning a Grade 2 Novices Chase at Ayr in April. He was strong at the finish at Ayr and looked suited to the return to a sound surface. Likely capable of better over fences this season albeit may need further or a strong pace to chase in a race like this on his seasonal reappearance.
Jetoile looked like a handicap chaser on the up when winning twice at Chepstow in the spring. Starts the season off a 9lb higher mark and in a deeper race on return. Maybe capable of better over fences this campaign and is suited to good/good to soft ground.
Verdict: A cracker of a race which likely revolves around My Drogo returning from a near two year absence. If he’s retained much of his old ability then he would take all the beating off his handicap mark. The more solid option is Tommy’s Oscar who looked better than ever when winning on his seasonal return.
3:10 – Jewson Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m 4f
Lac De Constance unbeaten on all three starts over hurdles two seasons back but didn’t really kick on over fences after winning on chase debut at Kempton last November. Must be respected back over the smaller obstacles on handicap debut.
Crambo unbeaten on two bumper starts the 6-year-old improved to win three of his five starts over hurdles last season including the valuable EBF Final at Sandown in March. His only two defeats coming in Grade 1 novice hurdles. May do better this season for a yard that won this last year.
Slip Road hasn’t been seen since winning a heavy ground novice hurdle at Chepstow in December 2020. First start for Peter Bowen here and it will be interesting to see if the 8-year-old has retained any of his old ability.
Dare To Shout looked a useful prospect whenwinning novice hurdles at Kelso and Newcastle earlier in the year before running poorly on handicap debut at Wetherby in March. Something was clearly amiss that day as the he returned from wind surgery to beat five rivals at Hexham on reappearance 23 days ago. Up 4lb in better race but looks capable of big run.
Wincanton
3:29 – Norman Court Stud Handicap Chase (For The Desert Orchid Silver Cup) (Class 3) – 3m 2 ½ f
Moroder looked a useful staying handicap chaser when winning four times two seasons back. Produced a career best on RPR’s when winning the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster in March and ran even better on ratings when 2 ½ length 2nd of 16 to Kitty’s Light in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown at the end of last season. This represents a drop in class but he maybe better for the run.
Switch Hitter gained a second success over fences when winning here (3m 1f) in February. Now 4lb higher on seasonal return but maybe capable of defying his new mark. The 8-year-old needed his seasonal return last season he did win first time up in 2021 and does go well on good ground. All four wins have come with Bryony Frost in saddle and on good ground.
Certainly Red landed a handicap chase hat trick here (3m 1f) in February. Not disgraced when 17 ½ length 7th of 16 in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on his final start last season. A three time winner at Wincanton and although he’s 5lb above his last winning mark I think he can go close on his seasonal return.
Coconut Splash is 0 wins from 12 runs over fences, but the 8-year-old has placed 9 times. Was well beaten when 3rd of 5 on seasonal return at Worcester last month. Now 9lb lower than when a 4 length 3rd of 7 at Wetherby 12 months ago and has been given a good chance by the handicapper.
Credo took well to fences last season winning two mares handicap chases last season. Below par on final start at Cheltenham in April but went close on seasonal return last year and can’t be totally dismissed if staying today’s extended 3m 2f.
Betting Advice:
Aintree
1:25 – Boldmere – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral
2:00 – Tommy’s Oscar – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Coral
Wincanton
3:29 – Certainly Red – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral.
Cheers
John