DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY APRIL 3
1.45 AINTREE
The opening day of what should be an enthralling Grand National meeting straight away sets punters the traditional poser of whether to stick with Cheltenham Festival from or look towards those who missed having a hard race in favour of coming here fresh.
For those in the former camp, Jango Baie flies the flag for the Arkle and given the way he finished off his race a month ago and, all his previous form, a step back up to 2m4f should aid his cause no end.
Although he clearly had a hard race at the Prestbury venue, it’s not as if he went there off the back of an arduous campaign and all his data pulls towards him being the most likely winner on all known evidence.
If there is to be a joker in the pack, GIDLEIGH PARK (best price 11-2) might just prove to be the outlier, as his victory over subsequent Cheltenham scorer Caldwell Potter at Windsor looks even better than it did at the time.
Harry Fry’s inmate looked a bit of dodgy proposition heading into his latest encounter at the Berkshire circuit, having pulled up abruptly on chase debut due to an irregular heartbeat, but right from the start he appeared to be a totally different horse and with a superb round of jumping, he maintained a strong gallop throughout to see off his main market rival.
Clearly over the issues that were holding him back at Kempton, the son of Walk In The Park arrives here fresh and with what should be a spring in his step following his latest exploits and with the data from 76 days ago suggesting he ran up to championship level, this extremely talented seven-year-old has all the attributes to give it a good lash around a track that should suit (best form on flat, left-handed courses).
GIDLEIGH PARK – 1-point each-way@11-2
2.20 AINTREE
A strange feel to this race with only two horses representing the Triumph Hurdle form and a bunch of others who are in some cases difficult to assess, but on balance, I think we have the right favourite in the shape of Puturhandstogether, who made a mockery of his mark in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.
The feature of his performance a month ago was how well he jumped and travelled at pace and arriving going strongly approaching the last, he found the necessary change of gear to pull readily clear.
Indeed, from three out he was noticeably quicker than both Kopek De Bordes and Golden Ace and looking as though he had plenty more to offer, there is an argument to suggest he wouldn’t have been out of place in the Triumph itself.
Extremely well backed in the last 48 hours (7-2 to 7-4), he would only need to run to a similar level to justify that confidence and get the better of what appears, on paper, to be no better than the sort of opposition he faced 23 days ago.
2.55 AINTREE
Grey Dawning and Spillane’s Tower stand out against a field who, by and large, have questions to ask at this level and of the pair, the former makes slightly more appeal.
After a gruelling ordeal in the Betfair Chase, Dan Skelton’s inmate never lifted a leg after a mistake at the first in the King George on Boxing Day and since then, his season has taken a very different shape.
Heading to Kelso for a confidence booster last time out rather than head to the Gold Cup, connections of the eight-year-old grey would have been delighted with the outcome, but more importantly, the way he jumped and travelled with all the verve we’ve become accustomed to right from the start of his chasing career.
Unlike last year when he got beaten in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase, he arrives here nice and fresh and with the ability to travel and jump well at pace over shorter, and stamina for three miles a solid combination to his game, he can go a long way to ending his season on a high.
Spillane’s Tower has been saved specifically for this contest having bypassed several possible targets at Cheltenham and that decision could end up being an inspired one.
Although never a real threat in the King George when last seen, the experience he would have gathered from racing at championship pace should stand him in fine stead going forward and with the strong possibility of more to come, Jimmy Mangan’s inmate is a must for any shortlist.
3.30 AINTREE
Brighterdaysahead’s absence is a bit of a disappointment, but we still have a good clash on our hands between Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth, a rematch of the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton back in December.
On that occasion, Nicky Henderson’s inmate ran out an impressive winner, but it would come as little surprise if his old advisory were to make a better fist of things over today’s trip and at the prices, the six-year-old mare makes slightly more appeal.
The way she won the Mares Hurdle in a common canter suggests she’s coming good at the right time – when the spring festivals are here – and having never been beaten when she’s tackled 2m4f, stable confidence will be high she can keep those impressive stats intact.
4.05 AINTREE
A bit of a mixed bag over the years for participants from the Foxhunters at Cheltenham, which casts some doubt whether Willitgoahead can go two places better than he did a month ago. On the flip side of that argument/trend, he travelled extremely strongly to suggest it was only the trip that found him out and being such a good jumper, he must enter calculations at the very least.
Another who has worked his way through the Irish point/hunter chase ranks is MILAN FORTH (best price 14-1) and he looks the type who should really thrive under the environment he is about to face.
A big, strapping son of Milan, he was having his first outing for Adrian Murray at Down Royal recently and having tanked his way throughout the extended 2m3f journey, he powered clear in the closing stages for a convincing success.
Looking at his data that day, it was noticeable he posted the fastest final circuit over the other two chases won by Favori De Champdou and Lightkeeper and that feat is considered a huge badge of honour for a hunter chaser.
Although he has won over three miles in the point field, he travels so strongly in his races that tomorrow’s examination of 2m5f, goodish ground and a flat, galloping track will suit ideally and being as he is somewhat of a unknown quantity for many UK punters, he looks to have rather slipped under the radar as far as his current price is concerned.
Of the rest, Lifetime Ambition must enter the conversation on several counts, mainly his on impressive displays in the Irish point field. His victory at Belclare recently was one that exuded class and it’s worth noting that he, unlike many others, has experience of these fences thanks to a valiant effort in the 2022 Grand Sefton.
MILAN FORTH – 1/2-point each-way@
4.40 AINTREE
A race named after one of the all-time greats of the turf but unlike ‘Rummy’ this two-mile event is all about speed and it’ll no doubt be a case of one mistake and you are out.
Clean, fast accurate jumping at speed, therefore, is a prerequisite and one who matches the criteria is Irish raider THE FOLKES TIARA (best price 7-1).
Looking at his data from his last two displays, Henry De Bromhead’s inmate has scored highest on the RaceIQ jump index – 8.9 at Leopardstown and 9.1 at Fairyhouse and on each occasion his lengths gained jumping over the field was 6.9.
Hailing from a yard who has prevented a total home-base domination in this event over the past decade, his two previous winners, Dancing On My Own and Moon Over Germany were both good ground types and, arriving here saved especially for this prize since finishing a agonising runner-up at the Dublin venue, everything about his claims appear solid.
THE FOLKES TIARA – 1-point each-way@7-1
5.15 AINTREE
As we saw at Cheltenham with Bambino Fever, a good spin in a Leopardstown bumper prior to heading over the Irish Sea is not to be sniffed at and OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW (best price 33-1) might have a better chance than her odds suggest of following a similar path.
Always to the fore at the Dublin venue, she saw off all of her closest pursuers until along came a Joseph O’Brien well-touted newcomer to spoil the party but she still came out of the race with great credit with an excellent speed figure.
Whether she can cope with a big home-based contingent of whom many have the potential to improve significantly is a open to question, but she comes across as a likeable type with a decent amount of ability and attitude in equal measures and at the prices, she is worth a shy at the stumps.
OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW – ½ point each-way@33-1