A Grand National winner and an Irish hope are Andy Holding's picks to conquer the four miles at Ayr.
The first thing to say when looking at the winners of this great race down the years is that they all come in different shapes and sizes and there’s no real obvious patterns. Six-year-old’s all the way through to veterans, class acts who carry 11st 10lb to victory alongside bottom weights, the four-mile journey at the Scottish venue tends to be less influenced by previous trends than many of its other counterparts.
Knowing that the likes of Run For Free, Belmont King, Grey Abbey and Vicente two years ago have all triumphed carrying top weight in recent times offers hope that this year’s incumbent, Beware The Bear, has more than a sporting chance of following up his Cheltenham Festival victory in the Ultima Handicap. Fairly unheralded that day despite going into the contest off the back of a previously gutsy success over the same course, Nicky Henderson’s gelding proved that the recent fitting of blinkers has certainly focused his mind and allowed him to take his game to another level and he should be capable of bettering last year’s performance in this contest at the very least (pulled up).
Staying with last year’s race, and VINTAGE CLOUDS (best price 12-1) has to be of some interest in his bid to go two places better. Strongly-fancied to run a big race in the Grand National last weekend, Sue Smith’s grey gelding unfortunately got no further than the first fence, but that early exit may end up being a blessing in disguise. Prior to that debacle seven days ago, the son of Cloudings turned in a typically game display in the Ultima Handicap won by Beware The Bear and providing his jumping holds up under the intense scrutiny of a big-field staying handicap chase over four miles, he’s one of the most likely to be there when they are dishing out the medals at the finish.
Big River certainly caught the eye in that Cheltenham heat a month ago and being one of the few in the line-up who’s already scored at the Scottish track, he’s a must for any shortlist. The way he stayed on up the hill at the Prestbury Park venue suggested an even stiffer test would suit and although he could ideally do with testing ground on the day, this lightly-raced nine-year-old should still be capable of giving a good account (has won on good ground).
No chaser arrives here in better shape and fully equipped to do the job than Crosspark and he’s another who deserves the utmost respect. Steadily making his way through the ranks from fairly humble beginnings at Uttoxeter back in November, Caroline Bailey’s gelding proved that big time handicaps are well within his compass when an excellent third in the Classic Chase at Warwick two starts ago and that performance was backed up by a deserved success at Newcastle on his most recent outing in the Eider Chase at Newcastle. Although he endured a hard race that day, at least the son of Midnight Legend has had a month and a half to get over those exertions and providing he can keep tabs on the leaders with a circuit to go, there’ll be nothing staying on stronger at the finish.
CROSSHUE BOY (best price 16-1) looks to be another laid out for this prize having took the big novices’ chase on this card in grand style last season and good ground (no significant rain forecast) should see him a massive player on his return visit. The way he stayed on in the latter stages twelve months ago suggests that a step up to this sort of trip will suit and it’s interesting that he’s had a couple of sighters over hurdles recently with a view of arriving here with his powder relatively dry.
Dingo Dollar also ran a big race in that same novices’ chase on this card last season so presumably he’s had this race as a target ever since. Placed in a couple of notable and competitive contests this term, Alan King’s gelding might be capable of bucking the trend of his handler’s poor record with his big Saturday runners.
Cogry has been a proper Jekyll and Hyde character in this race for the past two seasons and it’s a simply case of which one turns up. A repeat of the runner-up spot behind Vicente two years ago would give him a great chance, but that was backed up by a lamentable display when pulled up a mile out twelve months ago. In reasonably good form this campaign, the 10-year-old is clearly capable if on a going day.
Yala Enki has his fair share of weight, but this is big step down from the heady heights of the Gold Cup so the burden is thoroughly deserved. Third in the Welsh Grand National earlier in the season, Venetia Williams’ gelding has stamina and class in equal measures and any give in the ground (unlikely) would greatly enhance his prospects.
