Malina Girl, touted as a Grand National prospect for Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell, tops the weights for the Classic Chase at Warwick.
An emphatic success in the Jewson Handicap Chase at Cheltenham’s November Meeting highlighted her staying credentials, although she is bidding to bounce back from a fall when travelling well at the home of the Jumps last time out.
Guetapan Collonges and City Chief, another horse with long-term Aintree aspirations, have 11¼l and 14¼l to find with Malina Girl from their previous clash at Cheltenham two months ago, although both are significantly better off at the weights.
One horse that is almost certain to see out the trip is last year’s Midlands Grand National scorer Major Dundee, but a visor is applied after a couple of poor outings this term, while Fontaine Collonges heads into this after routing the field in the Rowland Meyrick.
Galia Des Liteaux, the winner of last season’s Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at this fixture, also features among the field of 14 runners for Saturday’s 15:00 as she makes her handicap debut.
The latest Classic Chase odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Classic Chase verdict
Timeform: MALINA GIRL has continued her progress this season and she might well have defied an 11 lb rise had she not fallen 3 out at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago (full of running at the time). She can make amends off an unchanged mark with her stamina assured (winner of the Ulster National in the spring). Fontaine Collonges was ultimately an impressive winner of the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day so rates a big threat, with Midlands Grand National winner Major Dundee another to consider.
*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
Classic Chase runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Classic Chase 2024.
Malina Girl
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: C. Stone-Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Progressive Irish chaser who stepped up markedly on reappearance (over hurdles) when scoring at Cheltenham (27.3f, soft) in November and might well have defied 11 lb rise had she not departed 3 out when looking full of running there following month. Of obvious interest off unchanged mark.
*****
Galia Des Liteaux
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Quickly developed into a smart chaser last term, the highlight coming when wining Grade 2 novice on this card a year ago. Landed odds in mares listed race on return, though underperformed in similar event at Newbury since. Has potential off this opening mark if seeing out longer trip. Headgear on.
***
Beauport
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Jordan Nailor Age: 8 Weight: 11st 9lbs
Progressive over hurdles and made a winning chase debut at Cheltenham on return last season. Largely underwhelming since, though suited by stepping up to a marathon trip when good second at Sandown last month, coming from further back than the pair he split. Claims if building on that.
****
Fontaine Collonges
Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 9 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Benefited from step up to 25.6f when landing a valuable Haydock handicap on her reappearance last season. Ended that campaign on a downer but resumed progress on what was effectively her reappearance when good winner of Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Needs considering up 7 lb.
****
City Chief
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Robert Dunne Age: 7 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Made a very good start over fences last term, landing a Grade 2 Wetherby novice in February, and he signed off with a good third in handicap chase at Ayr. Probably needed the run when fourth at Cheltenham (27.3f, soft) on return and not enough emphasis on stamina there 4 weeks ago.
***
Rapper
Trainer: Henry Daly Jockey: Alice Stevens Age: 10 Weight: 11st 7lbs
Back to form when fourth at Cheltenham last month but likely to find this too competitive.
**
Guetapan Collonges
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon Jockey: Richie McLernon Age: 8 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Developed into a useful staying handicap chaser last season and he resumed progress when landing 3m handicap chase at Carlisle on return. Decent 11¼ lengths third to Malina Girl at Cheltenham since (11 lb better off with her now) and no surprise if he bettered last year’s fourth in this.
****
Major Dundee
Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 9 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Limited to just 3 starts last season but looked better than ever when landing the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (34f, soft) in March. Creditable third on reappearance here (25.5f) last month and while not so good at Chepstow since, the return to a marathon trip is a huge plus. Headgear on.
****
Broken Halo
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Lorcan Williams Age: 9 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Useful chaser who landed back-to-back military races over 3m at Sandown last season. In the process of running well after 7 months off when falling heavily 2 out there on return 5 weeks ago.
***
Credo
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 9 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Likeable sort. Won twice in mares’ events last season and added to tally at Wincanton (27f) on reappearance in October. Good placed efforts both starts since, including when third in Tommy Whittle at Haydock 3 weeks ago. Step up in trip sure to suit so not taken lightly.
****
Percussion
Trainer: L J Morgan Jockey: Harry Reed Age: 9 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Three-time chase winner. Best form has come over the Grand National fences at Aintree, including when placed both starts this season. Stamina to prove.
***
My Silver Lining
Trainer: Emma Lavelle Jockey: James Best Age: 8 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Signed off last season on a winning note at Cheltenham and followed up on return at Wincanton in October. Continued the good work when runner-up at Exeter and Sandown since but looks vulnerable up in class/trip.
***
Duc De Beauchene
Trainer: David Pipe Jockey: Jack Tudor Age: 11 Weight: 10st 2lbs
In the form of his life back in the spring, winning staying handicaps at Wincanton and Fakenham (good second in stronger Kempton contest in between). However, nowhere near that level in more recent outings and easy to oppose in this.
**
Volcano
Trainer: Sheila Lewis Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 10 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Strong stayer who is something of a Warwick specialist (3-time C&D winner). Excuses at Cheltenham last time but has work to do from 2 lb out of the handicap.
**
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Wetherby, Warwick & Kempton
- Paul Jacobs’ ITV Racing tips for Saturday
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Saturday’s ITV action
- NAP of the Day: Today’s NAPs Table of horse racing tips across the UK & Ireland
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