Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with six to follow on Saturday at Sandown Park and Aintree. View selections below
Willie Mullins’ Un De Sceaux leads the market for this afternoon’s Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown but he warrants opposing as BetVictor’s 13/8 favourite with the Gary Moore trained pair of Ar Mad and Sire de Grugy, both successful at G1 level on the corresponding card 12 months ago, fancied to relish conditions and marginal preference for the younger legs of Ar Mad (3.00) getting the nod under Jamie’s younger brother Josh.
Sire de Grugy raised the roof when landing a second Tingle Creek last season but the time recorded by Ar Mad in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase was three seconds quicker and he warrants supporting at 3/1 with BetVictor to maintain his unbeaten record around the Esher track.
As mentioned, Ar Mad won the 2m Novices’ Chase here last season, beating Bristol de Mai in an exhibition of jumping over the railway fences, and I think we’ll see similar fireworks from Nicky Henderson’s Altior (1.55) under Noel Fehily. Last season’s Supreme winner made a flawless start to his chasing career last month at Kempton and deserves his place as the 2/1 favourite with BetVictor for further Cheltenham Festival success in the Arkle in the spring.
Tingle Creek prices from BetVictor
Un De Sceaux 13/8
Ar Mad 3/1
Sire de Grugy 7/2
God’s Own 5/1
Vibrato Valtat 20/1
Sir Valentino 50/1
I’m looking forward to seeing Tom George’s Cruisaweigh (12.20) make his debut over hurdles and he is a confident selection to land the opener under Adrian Heskin. The selection was well supported in the market prior to bolting-up in a warm Aintree bumper and is clearly held in the highest regard at the yard.
A bumper field of 24 go over the National Fences in the Becher Chase with last season’s Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri heading the weights in a wonderful renewal of a traditionally ultra-competitive handicap. The 8yo jumped like a stag when second at the track in April but must conceded upwards of 5lb to a strong field and preference lies instead with the pair of Vieux Lion Rouge and Silvergrove (1.35) with the latter expected to go close for the pair of Ben Pauling and Tom Cannon.
The selection has won two of his five starts since joining the yard last season and after winning competitive handicap chases at Newbury and Kempton put in a career best when third at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring. He looked in need of the run when third on his seasonal reappearance last month at the BetVictor Open Meeting at Cheltenham and looks well treated from a pound lower mark. Vieux Lion Rouge meanwhile ran a belter when 7th in the Grand National when looking to not stay the 4m 4f trip and, with a great record fresh, looks to have been aimed at this by the in-form team at Pond House.
Many Clouds (2.40) was second in the 3m Listed 12 months ago but should go one better under dual Grand National winning jockey Leighton Aspell. Oliver Sherwood’s 9yo was a spectacular winner of the National 18 months ago and should enjoy further Aintree success making his first start since having a breathing-op in the summer.
Barry Geraghty partners Minella Rocco against Many Clouds but I personally think he’ll be using this as a prep for the Welsh National, 12/1 favourite with BetVictor, and his best chance of winner looks to be Litterale Ci (12.00) in the opener. The selection made a promising debut for the Harry Fry yard when second last month at Exeter and should take all the beating in the 2m Juvenile Hurdle.
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Be lucky
Charlie
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