After the hype and hoopla surrounding the Grand National, there is usually an anti-climatic lull in the National Hunt season before a final crescendo at the Punchestown festival, which will bring the season to a close. However before then we have the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr Saturday, with a bumper field that includes last years winner Merigo, as well as strong chances from the Tim Vaughan, Gordon Elliot and David Pipe yards. There is also extremely competitive flat racing from both Doncaster and Newbury, and we are fortunate to be at that time of the year, where both codes are working in harmony!
We start off our selections at Newbury, and in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, and the Sir Michael Stoute trained VERDANT. He was billed as a possible Derby horse last year after winning a good maiden and then a tough handicap race, but instead went down the handicapping route. He ran on Derby day finishing third behind the tough Dandino, before ending the season with good wins at Sandown and Goodwood. The Khalid Abdullah owned 4 year old will have the best jockey in the business on board in Ryan Moore and is clearly on the upgrade. There could be a threat in the Clive Cox/Adam Kirby partnership that has Poet, the top rated horse in the race also involved, and could fill out the 1-2.
We stay at Newbury for the next race for Fred Darling stakes, which is now called the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, a listed contest for fillies. There is a line up of 14 contending this group 3 race, with lots of well respected horses, with the top stables all represented. Cape Dollar, winner of the Rockfel Stakes last year is respected and will likely go off the warm favourite for Sir Michael Stoute. However a chance should be taken on RIMTH, the horse who set tongues wagging with an impressive facile maiden win last year, before being ultra consistent in big races last year. She followed her maiden win with places in the Lowther Stakes, Dick Poole stakes and Chevely Park stakes, twice finishing behind Champion 2 year old filly Hooray. There is an eyecatching booking with Cristophe Soumillion on board, who is returning from a very successful stint in Meydan for Mike De Kock.
The focal point of Ayr’s season is the Scottish Grand National, a gruelling 4 mile race, won last year by Merigo, who lines up to defend his crown. There are 30 runners, and the ground is likely to be good or good to firm, which should suit perfectly recent Cheltenham National Hunt Chase winner CHICAGO GREY for the fantastic trainer Gordon Elliot. His victory at Cheltenham shows he stays the trip perfectly, and there will be no issues over the ground. He has a very good handicap mark, thanks to Neptune Collognes running taking top weight. The trainer is in exceptional form, having winners at the highest level at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. The major threats come from Merigo, who clearly loves the course and trip, and Beshabar, second to Chicago Grey last time out, but in receipt of 5lb on their reappearance.
Selections:
2.05 Newbury – Verdant
2.40 Newbury – Rimth
3.25 Ayr – Chicago Grey NAP
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
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