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| Calipso Collonges can go well in the Chepstow showpiece. (c)Nigel Kirby |
Luckily, the weather seems to have taken a slightly more positive turn over Thursday and into Friday, which will hopefully allow for a full compliment of jumps meetings. With the rearranged Dipper Novices Chase at Wincanton, the rescheduled Relkeel Hurdle at Kempton alongside an intriguing renewal of the Silviniaco Conti Chase. The Welsh National is a race I've always had a soft spot for and I have a selection for the big race who can hopefully run well at a decent price.
I have put together five selections, all of which should be fair prices and could be worth chucking in an each way Lucky 31, or something of that ilk, and fingers crossed, we can pick up some pennies. Let's get into it:
El Conquistador 11.30 Lingfield
A tricky way to start the day but El Conquistador is a horse I've been waiting to reappear after an eyecatching effort over a mile here last time out, for which he has been dropped two pounds. He is running over 1m2f this time and has the tongue tie on for the first time, which could bring about further improvement. Trainer Shaun Keightley is an extremely shrewd operator and this lightly raced runner could easily have scope off his mark of 63. Dangers are the hat-trick seeking Subliminal, long distance traveller Corked and Sophosc, who showed a bit more last time and is well handicapped.
Smarty Wild 1.10 Kempton
Smarty Wild lines up here for the Philip Hobbs team, and is still lightly raced over larger obstacles, and I strongly suspect this test will be ideal. Racing in the colours of Gunther McBride, who ran in four Racing Post Chases at this venue in the early noughties including a win in 2002, has had just the three starts over fences and showed plenty of promise. He was well fancied at Wetherby two starts ago, where he didn't travel very well after clouting an obstacle down the back straight, before finishing a good third in better company at Ascot last time. The heavy, sticky ground that day won't have helped and these conditions, together with a drop in grade can see him go very close.
Santon 1.30 Wincanton
Santon makes his handicap debut for Tom Cannon and Alan King. He survived Trevor Hemmings' dispersal and remains a horse with potential after catching the eye in all of his novice hurdles to varying degrees, particularly last time out behind Bobhopeornohope at Doncaster, beating a previous and subsequent winner in the process. A mark of 115 is fair and I'm expecting a big run. Sizeable Sam would be a main danger, and he is a horse I like, particularly going over fences next term.
Calipso Collonges 3.10 Chepstow
Welsh National time!! Cases can be made for loads of these, particularly the favourite Secret Reprieve, who is 8lbs well in after his win here in the 'Trial' for this, beating The Two Amigos and Bobo Mac in the process. However, the trip is a slight concern for him, unlike his stablemate Prime Venture, who was fourth in the race last year and reappeared this term with an easy Sedgefield win. Last year's second and third also line up again, Truckers Lodge and Yala Enki, both trained by Paul Nicholls, and have solid claims of going well again. However, if you want one at a price, you could do worse than Calipso Collonges, who travelled like a dream at Aintree in the Becher Chase last time out, where after travelling beautifully up until the home turn, just blowing up and needing the run late on. He will have come on for that, has a featherweight for last year's winning rider Jack Tudor, and can hopefully be given a patient ride and gradually pick runners off one by one, and with extra places which most bookies will be offering, can run a big race.
Doyannie 3.50 Chepstow
Finally, Doyannie lines up in the Chepstow finale for James Best and Jack Barber. She is another making her handicap debut and looks as though a mark of 109 could be well within range. She has shown more than enough promise in her novice hurdle outings so far, in particular last time out, and given that the front two in the market, Whiteoak Fleur and Poniente both like to get on with it, it could pay to be on a horse a little bit off the speed.
Hopefully the weather is kind and we can look forward to a great day of top quality sport. I'll be back on Sunday having a review of Saturday's action, plus a look ahead to Monday's action at Doncaster.
Be lucky and most importantly in these times, stay safe.
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