1 pt each/way Merigo, (15/2 Sportingbet, 7/1 Boylesports
paying 5 places), 0.5 pt each/way Galaxy Rock (10/1 general), 3.25 Ayr
The Scottish Grand National – in line with most of the other
Nationals this year – looks like a very strong renewal on the face of things
with plenty of young, progressive sorts. Of the first 6 in the betting, 5 are
no older than 10, but the 11 year old Merigo makes most appeal here to try and
win the race for a second time in three years.
An 18/1 shot when romping home with the 2010 renewal, he had
little or no form to speak of until running another screamer in last year’s
renewal, splitting the uber progressive pair of Beshabar and Always Right and
threatening to get up in the line. Having been 12lbs out of the handicap that
day, he’s now back in the weights proper and has seen his mark drop 8lbs since
then, while his win over heavy ground here last time is a massive bonus given
how this has clearly been the only target since last year’s renewal. People
have begun to cotton onto this and he’s a best priced 15/2 with PPower and
Sportingbet, but he still rates a solid each/way bet at the prices, with 7/1
avalaible for those who want the cover of a fifth place.
Next best is Galaxy Rock, who looked on course for such big things
when romping home with a comeptitve Cheltenham handicap chase in November
before disappointing in the Welsh National when pulled up, although the war of
attrition that the ground made it that day means the ffort is best forgiven. He
was well beaten into fourth in the Skybet Chase but first and second Calgary
Bay and Shakalakaboomboom were class acts while Fruity O’Rooney ran a screamer
in the JLT Handicap Chase at the Festival next time out. He’s 5lbs better off
with Gary Moore’s charge today and looks sure to enjoy a stamina test on good
ground, with his ability to race prominently a massive plus, and his handicap
hurdle third was an excellent prep.
Harry The Viking deserves respect based on his progressive
form throughought the season and he looked to improve a significant amount for
four miles when staying on for a close second in the National Hunt Chase at the
Festival, doing his best work up the run in. He should be there at the finish
and was a tempting option with a mark of 143 not overestimating him, and this has
been a decent race for novices with three winners in the past decade while Paul
Nicholls has saddled a couple of agonisingly close seconds with both Ladalko
and Cornish Rebel going down by just a short-head.
Portrait King should handle a 9lbs rise for his Eider win
based on the ease with which he travelled and picked up and also caught the eye
from an early stage in the declartions, with his previous win in the Irish
Grand National trial actually proving to be even stronger form than his Eider
win. With novices having a good record he stands out, assuming that he’s not
held up early.
Knockara Beau, who didn’t run a bad race at Cheltenham in
the Gold Cup and previously had been third in the Argento Chase, holds a good
shout on several efforts this season and is hard to dismiss, with the trip sure
to suit him. He looks to be an ideal candidate for this event along with
Ikorodu Road, who has been impressive in different ways when winning at 3m2f
the last twice. When he beat Junior in the Grimthrope at Doncaster it looked as
if he’d been slightly hampered by the last fence fall of Pentiffic and in any
case, a longer trip may well have seen him win, although his fall at the second
in the National does make this an afterthought and I’d like to see how he
travels early with a view to backing him in running.
Quentnin Collonges has been interesting some based on his
clear cut win over the Cockney Mackem although others are preferred; Best of the
outsiders looks to be Abbeybranaey and Any Currency.
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