What a fascinating weekend of racing we have in stall yet again, with the top two two-milers Sprinter Sacre and Sanctuaire clashing tomorrow and in the John Durkan on Sunday, the up and coming Flemenstar vs one of the Gold Cup contenders in Sir Des Champs. Not only do we have two brilliant clashes, but we have the Becher Chase aswell and last years winner, West End Rocker pictured right, bids to retain his crown!
The Becher Chase is ran over the national fences and this 3m 2f around Aintree is a gruelling test. Past Grand National winner Ballabriggs looks like his best days have gone and shouldering another 11st 12lbs against some useful types looks to be too much. A couple of horses in the field who have ran reasonably well are In Compliance and Big Fella Thanks. In Compliance recorded a 100/1 5th in this years National after not lasting home near the elbow and Big Fella Thanks has always looked like he has needed 5miles when running in the national, as he always plugged on late! Big Fella Thanks looks to need the run, but Tom George's yard are ones to watch. In Compliance might be a bit too old now and might find it all a bit too much. Another who possibly could is Hello Bud. Ran reasonably well for a long way in the cross country at Cheltenham last month.
Midnight Haze, Gullible Gordon, Minella Theatre and Ballyvesey are all sorts who I think have too many question marks against them and I expect to struggle. Swing Bill swings around the Cheltenham home turn in style but this looks too much for him. He can jump a fence however. Poker De Sivola has never done me any favours, the year I backed him at Cheltenham, he got 5th staying on. The year I dont back him, he wins! Would love him to run a cracker but I'm not a big fan of Ferdy Murphy, as he has been quiet over the last couple of seasons and I have to pass him over today. Any Currency, a likeable sort who plods around the likes of Sandown and Cheltenham well, often finds a flat spot and if he does to tomorrow, his chance will fade away. I'd like him to run well but this could be a bit too much for him. I do like Fabulu as a horse but his run over this fences 3 runs ago was just not good enough I will be watching him tomorrow. Mumbles Head racked up a treble in the summer and ran a creditable race in a Veterans race last time out. He could be at the business end when it counts. Join Together has been hyped up all week, but for some reason, I dont think he has the experience to take the race. He will run a brave race but I'd like to see him run well over these fences first before I look at his future targets. We are left with Problema Tic and last years winner West End Rocker. Problema Tic is another like Join Together where he is quite in-experienced in these big types or racing and after backing him at Cheltenham last time, I think that there is a prize at Cheltenham or Sandown available. I do like his profile but think he may fall short with West End Rocker. Yes, he has finished only once of his three runs round the course, but I am expecting a big run today as Alan King has spoke highly of him this week and he has a nice prep run last time out in the Badger Ales chase at Wincanton, the winner, being The Package who ran a fine 4th in the Hennessy.
Main Selection: West End Rocker
Next Best: Join Together and Problema Tic
The Becher Chase is ran over the national fences and this 3m 2f around Aintree is a gruelling test. Past Grand National winner Ballabriggs looks like his best days have gone and shouldering another 11st 12lbs against some useful types looks to be too much. A couple of horses in the field who have ran reasonably well are In Compliance and Big Fella Thanks. In Compliance recorded a 100/1 5th in this years National after not lasting home near the elbow and Big Fella Thanks has always looked like he has needed 5miles when running in the national, as he always plugged on late! Big Fella Thanks looks to need the run, but Tom George's yard are ones to watch. In Compliance might be a bit too old now and might find it all a bit too much. Another who possibly could is Hello Bud. Ran reasonably well for a long way in the cross country at Cheltenham last month.
Midnight Haze, Gullible Gordon, Minella Theatre and Ballyvesey are all sorts who I think have too many question marks against them and I expect to struggle. Swing Bill swings around the Cheltenham home turn in style but this looks too much for him. He can jump a fence however. Poker De Sivola has never done me any favours, the year I backed him at Cheltenham, he got 5th staying on. The year I dont back him, he wins! Would love him to run a cracker but I'm not a big fan of Ferdy Murphy, as he has been quiet over the last couple of seasons and I have to pass him over today. Any Currency, a likeable sort who plods around the likes of Sandown and Cheltenham well, often finds a flat spot and if he does to tomorrow, his chance will fade away. I'd like him to run well but this could be a bit too much for him. I do like Fabulu as a horse but his run over this fences 3 runs ago was just not good enough I will be watching him tomorrow. Mumbles Head racked up a treble in the summer and ran a creditable race in a Veterans race last time out. He could be at the business end when it counts. Join Together has been hyped up all week, but for some reason, I dont think he has the experience to take the race. He will run a brave race but I'd like to see him run well over these fences first before I look at his future targets. We are left with Problema Tic and last years winner West End Rocker. Problema Tic is another like Join Together where he is quite in-experienced in these big types or racing and after backing him at Cheltenham last time, I think that there is a prize at Cheltenham or Sandown available. I do like his profile but think he may fall short with West End Rocker. Yes, he has finished only once of his three runs round the course, but I am expecting a big run today as Alan King has spoke highly of him this week and he has a nice prep run last time out in the Badger Ales chase at Wincanton, the winner, being The Package who ran a fine 4th in the Hennessy.
Main Selection: West End Rocker
Next Best: Join Together and Problema Tic