*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Wincanton 12:40 – Sabrina (each-way)
The top-weight falls into the could-be-anything category, and is respected, but I prefer to side with the race-fit Sabrina each-way. Freddie Gingell – Joe Tizzard’s nephew – claims a valuable 10lb and she looked at least as good as ever when runner-up at Newton Abbot last time. A course and distance winner who is equally effective on good or heavy ground, she looks sure to be involved in the finish.
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Doncaster 12:50 – Tarhib
Heavy ground will make this a test at the trip, and that puts me off class act Art Power, who has to concede a Group 3 penalty. Commanche Falls and Tarhib are the pair I considered, and I’m coming round to the latter, who produced a career best on testing ground at Nottingham recently despite not getting the run of the race.
Aintree 13:01 – Johnson’s Blue
If the ground is very soft, I’d swerve this, but if not then Johnson’s Blue looks handicapped to continue his winning run. Three Hexham wins are nothing to crow about, but his latest romp at Cartmel was impressive, with plenty of in-form rivals in his wake. The third there has run up a sequence since, and Johnson’s Blue could be hard to catch given his slick jumping.
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Wincanton 13:15 – McFabulous
McFabulous is a horse I’ve always figured would be a better chaser than a hurdler, and he probably would have gone over fences last year but for a setback in the autumn. He’s a bold jumper of hurdles and a fluent mover, so should be ideally suited by Wincanton on good ground, and I’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t win well at the first attempt.
Wincanton 13:50 – Lord Accord
There aren’t many who appeal here, and recent Cheltenham winner Lord Accord has strong claims of following up after a small rise in the weights. Despite being only seven, he’s already won a handicap chase off his current mark, and he looked better than ever when beating The Wolf last time, where his jumping was an asset. He’s got the right credentials for this tricky course, and should give punters a big run for their money.
Aintree 14:11 – Gesskille
I’m intrigued by the Greenall/Guerriero runner Gesskille here – he’s won both UK starts in hunter chases, and has shown better form returned to his native France since, landing a Listed chase on his latest start at Auteuil over this trip. He’ll have jumped all sorts of obstacles there, and I doubt the Grand National fences will faze him. He’s hard to rate, but gets in off bottom weight, and looks shrewdly placed.
Down Royal 14:32 – Galvin
There is nothing to choose between Galvin and Conflated on last season’s form, and the key here is that the former has fitness on his side after winning at Punchestown last month, which may give him the edge here.
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Aintree 14:45 – Dashel Drasher
Dashel Drasher is more than an Ascot specialist over fences, as he showed when making all to beat the exciting Beauport over hurdles at Newbury last season. He will again get an easy lead, and is a fluent jumper over the smaller obstacles, so promises to be hard to catch.
Wincanton 15:00 – Sceau Royal
I suspect that Milkwood might travel into the home straight at least as well as Sceau Royal, but the latter’s slick jumping could be the difference between the pair late on. Alan King’s 10-y-o is one of the most consistent jumpers of recent years, and runs to his rating almost all the time.
Doncaster 15:13 – Metier
High draws ought to dominate on the heavy ground here, and many of the big fancies have got lucky in that regard. Stall 10 is only just wide enough to consider Metier, but Harry Fry’s high-class hurdler is best on this ground, and was a progressive handicapper in Ireland when last racing on the Flat. He could still be ahead of the handicapper carrying that old rating.
Rory Delargy’s Saturday selections:
Wincanton 12:40 – Sabrina (each-way)
Doncaster 12:50 – Tarhib
Aintree 13:01 – Johnson’s Blue
Wincanton 13:15 – McFabulous
Wincanton 13:50 – Lord Accord
Aintree 14:11 – Gesskille
Down Royal 14:32 – Galvin
Aintree 14:45 – Dashel Drasher
Wincanton 15:00 – Sceau Royal
Doncaster 15:13 – Metier
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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