The extra week between the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National at Aintree might just level the playing field for horses running in both, says Andy Holding.
Aintree clues from the Cheltenham Festival
Analysing the races run at the Cheltenham Festival with a view to the future is just as much fun as the selection process in the first place and here is a collection of horses to note that might make some sort of impact at Aintree and beyond.
The biggest dilemma facing punters is to try and ascertain whether to side with those who took part at the Festival or go with those saved specifically for Aintree in order to stay fresh.
A lot will depend on what type of horse we are dealing with as some will have the constitution to take on board both festivals, whereas others of a more delicate nature need a more circumspect approach to succeed.
Either way, the extra week between the two meetings this season does make for a more level playing field than in previous years and, as always, it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
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Corach Rambler enhances Grand National claims in the Ultima
Looking towards the Grand National itself, there were quite a few horses who put their prospects of Aintree glory in the shop window over the four days, none more so than CORACH RAMBLER in the Ultima Handicap Chase (now 8/1 best price for the Grand National).
Bidding for a repeat of last year’s win, Lucinda Russell’s inmate was ridden in typically confident fashion by his regular pilot Derek Fox and having taken the brave man’s route around the inside for the entire journey, they came through strongly at the business end to pull off a famous double.
First impressions would be to say he’d had a hard race, but when you consider it was only his third start of the campaign, and his first since November, it’s probably wiser to take the approach he might actually come on for the run.
Whichever side of the fence you sit, there’s no denying the obvious claims the son of Jeremy holds heading into the toughest examination of his career and with his solid jumping being the biggest part of his game, he has every attribute in the book to succeed.
Noble Yeats shows form to buck Gold Cup trend
Other than Rough Quest back in 1996, who finished runner-up to Imperial Call, the Gold Cup isn’t usually a reliable guide to finding the Grand National winner, but in the case of NOBLE YEATS, he might be one who could buck the trend.
A surprise winner of the Aintree showpiece last year, Emmet Mullins’ gelding has actually improved his status since and his fourth in the blue riband at Cheltenham has only reaffirmed his rising stock.
Outpaced in the hottest part of the race over a mile from home, the son of Yeats did extremely well in the circumstances to finish a respectable 15-length fourth and with all the data pointing in the direction of it being one of the best Cheltenham Gold Cups run in recent times, his performance deserves extra praise.
Whether his second hard race since the turn of the year will have a detrimental effect come Aintree only time will tell, but as far as pure class goes, the eight-year-old carries easily the best form going into the race.
Hewick and Gaillard Du Mesnil to miss out
One that won’t be taking his place on the starting grid at Aintree is Hewick, who put up a brave fight in the Gold Cup until falling when a busted flush at the second last. Afterwards, his trainer stated it would be wrong to take his charge to Aintree on the back of a fall and instead he will wait until either Punchestown or Sandown.
Another who looks set to miss Aintree this year is Gaillard Du Mesnil, who had a particularly hard race in winning the National Hunt Chase.
Last year’s Irish National third, he clearly has the requisite stamina for the English version but, with his trainer stating after his exploits at Cheltenham that the race would come too soon, we might have to wait another year before he’s sent over the unique fences.
Kim Muir provides classier contest for Mr Incredible preparation
The Kim Muir was a classier race than usually this year and for once, the cream very much came to the top. Of those who were involved in the finish, MR INCREDIBLE ran a perfectly respectable trial for the Grand National, keeping on well from the back of the field to finish a creditable third, and his preparations seemed to have been timed to a nicety.
On each of his last two starts at Warwick and at Cheltenham, Willie Mullins’ inmate has been noted doing all his best work at the finish and he looks just the type who will relish every yard of the 4m2f journey. If there is a slight negative with the son of Westerner, it’s his temperament, but as he didn’t show any sort of recalcitrance at Cheltenham both at the start or during the race (has refused in the past), hope is a little higher than it was before he will cope with all the pre-race razzamatazz in less than a month’s time.
Delta Work to emulate Tiger Roll?
As Tiger Roll has proved in recent times, the Cross Country race at the Festival isn’t a bad trial for the National, so on that basis both DELTA WORK and GALVIN have to come into the argument.
The former had a clear fitness edge over his stable mate going into Cheltenham and that proved to be the decisive factor in the closing stages. Going down to the last, it looked as though the latter might gain the day, but having his first run for 77 days prior to Cheltenham just took its toll on the long climb to the line and he had to settle for an honourable second.
On the evidence on their exploits at Prestbury Park, last year’s third has every chance of going well again while Galvin has the class and stamina in equal measure to join him at the business end.
Two 2022 contenders ready for repeat title tilt
Two that avoided Cheltenham to go down different routes to Aintree in the last week were ANY SECOND NOW and LONGHOUSE POET.
The former warmed up for another tilt at the world’s greatest race with a smooth victory over 2m4f at Navan and his preparations couldn’t have gone any smoother, while the latter bounced back to something close to his best with a comfortable success over 3m2f at Down Royal.
Having both been band there at the last fence last season, it’s easy to see the pair being involved again with a clear round.
