Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Chepstow, Wetherby and Kempton on Saturday. View selections below.
MR VANGO (2.50) can prove a highly popular winner of the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Sara Bradstock’s strapping nine-year-old, a remorseless front-running galloper, has a Midlands Grand National on his c.v. and only lost out on the nod at Aintree three weeks ago.
Last year’s runner-up Jubilee Express looks primed for another huge performance. He put down a solid marker here three weeks ago when accounting for re-opposing Collectors Item, with the front two pulling 32 lengths clear of the toiling third.
O’Connell hails from the hot Sue Smith yard and scored in the manner of a stout stayer when landing the 3m 4f London Gold Cup at Sandown three weeks ago. He can go well under a 4lb penalty.
At Wetherby, TRAPRAIN LAW (2.45) is worth a bet in the two-mile William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase now dropping slightly in grade.
The grey split useful pair Saint Segal and Matata at Kelso earlier this month, backing up a promising fourth to in-form Calico at Cheltenham.
Dan Skelton’s Harper’s Brook landed this contest last December and now races off a 3lb lower mark. He should strip sharper for an outing at Exeter 22 days ago but a bigger danger may be posed by stablemate Madara, runner-up behind Germirande in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham 12 months ago.
His fourth to Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup was another solid effort, although this drop to the minimum trip may not be ideal.
Earlier on the card, FRISBY (1.35) catches the eye in the three-mile William Hill Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Pat Neville’s seven-year-old was sent off favourite at Kelso last time, leading two out before being collared and filling third spot. Brian Hughes continues in the saddle.
DELLA CASA LUNGA (1.20) is fancied to further extent her impressive Kempton record by defying top weight in the three-mile Ladbrokes Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
The top weight boasts a 2-1-3 record from three starts at the track in the past 13 months, including when winning this contest last year, and she stayed on nicely into third when tackling a shorter distance last month.
That will have set her up for a repeat performance and Della Casa Lunga can confirm superiority over last December’s runner-up Holly Hartingo.
INDEMNITY (3.37) can send punters home happy by scooping the two-mile Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.
The Emma Lavelle-trained gelding chased home hotpot Alexei at Ascot at the beginning of November before posting an excellent third at Newbury.
Prolific winner Trustintimes was sent off a generously-priced 20-1 shot at Ascot when beating Fortune de Mar, with that runner-up going on to enhance the form by winning next time at Cheltenham.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
