It promises to be an action packed start to The 2013 Grand National meeting, with four Grade 1’s on the first day being an absolute treat for us National Hunt racing fans. The first race is for the juveniles and whilst Irish Saint is proven on good ground, Rolling Star could be better, having dispatched him last time they met at Cheltenham, before disappointing in The Triumph Hurdle. He looks to have a high cruising speed however and will suit Aintree’s flat track, as seen with Grumeti lst year. Ruacana is bred to appreciate better ground and could be a lively outsider for John Ferguson and Denis O’ Regan.
The Betfred Bowl seems a straightforward one for me, and I am dead against Silviniaco Conti. I don’t like horses that fell last time out, and have also never liked Paul Nicholls’s seven year old. First Lieutenant has the best form around, but the fact he hasn’t won a race for nearly 18 months is a big worry. At a price it could be worth siding with Cape Tribulation, a winner at the festival here last year. The key to him is good ground, as seen when winning at Cheltenham and Aintree last year, and looked laboured in The Gold Cup in softening conditions, over a longer trip. Before that, he ran a cracking race to beat Grand National top weight Imperial Commander in The Argento Chase, and he looks the one for me.
My favourite horse in training runs tomorrow, and I’m at a quandary as to what to do. The horse in question is Grandouet, and I would love to see him win, all financial reasons aside, I love him to bits. Barry Geraghty has chosen him over Oscar Whisky, and that looks to be a big positive. I can’t have Zarkander, he’s an absolute mule, and same goes for Prospect Wells and Raya Star, with Saphir River the rag of the field. Countrywide Flame lacks class, and that leaves Thousand Stars and The New One. Thousand Stars flopped last time out in dire ground at Navan, but has been second in this race the last two years, so is respected. Although The New One is only five, it’s hard not to like him, he travels jumps and has a turn of foot, and the trip should be perfect for him. I put him up for The Neptune in October, which he duly dotted up in, and will have the ground and the pace to suit him, and capitalise on rivals who thrive at other trips.
Cloudy Lane has been well beaten in two starts this season, but the key to him is the ground and the track. He won the race last year after being smashed up and trainer Donald McCain has said it is all about The Foxhunters at Aintree. He didn’t want to run him on poor ground earlier in the season, but had no choice; it was the only way to get him fit. As such, he will hopefully go off a bigger price on the day, and can make it back to back successes for Donald McCain and Richard Harding.
Kid Cassidy ran incredibly free last time out, as is his way, also hitting the front far too soon at Cheltenham and still managed to run a really strong race against a horse who was arguably a stone well in. He and Alderwood pulled ten lengths of the field, and with AP back on board, I can see him coming from last to first off top weight for the Champion Jockey to land the two mile handicap chase, expect a big punt from the horse’s notorious owner; JP McManus.
I like the look of Tap Night running over a longer trip, but he may be out-classed in the two and a half miles novice chase, with a stellar field of eight solid runners. It looks a match between Fago and Captain Conan, and Captain Conan looks the one to plump for. He came up travelling strongly at Cheltenham before being worn down in the closing stages, eased down by Barry Geraghty when beat, and the ‘5’ next to his name, doesn’t give a true indication of how well he ran. The trip will be easier to get around Aintree, and on better ground, he has a massive advantage to Fago, who has been plying his trade in bottomless ground in France.
Aintree 2.00 – Rolling Star
Aintree 2.30 – Cape Tribulation
Aintree 3.05 – The New One
Aintree 3.40 – Cloudy Lane
Aintree 4.15 – Kid Cassidy (Nb)
Aintree 4.50 – Captain Conan (Nap)
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