Holywell was the early Grand National mover after we introduced our 6 EW places and NRNB on the event and Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is 12s (from 14) for the great race on Saturday week at BetVictor.
The ground is described as soft at Newbury ahead of their two-day jumps meeting although there is the possibility of Friday rain after a dry Thursday.
In the opener Hell’s Kitchen (1.50) can make it two out of three over timber and follow up a win over today’s C&D last month when he travelled through the race like a decent prospect. Barry Geraghty again takes the ride and he can give 10lbs (including jockey’s allowance) to Fly Du Charmil who sweated up badly before his only start over timber when sent off a very well backed favourite; he has plenty to prove after that modest effort but this winner between the flags and of his sole Bumper has ability.
The Auld Lad (2.25) has left Paul Nicholls since running poorly in the Badger Ales at Wincanton back in November; that extended 3m on soft ground was never likely to suit and he looks fairly treated back in trip on his first start for Neil Mulholland. Hindon Road looks well treated on the best of his hurdles form but he hasn’t not exactly set the world alight over fences and is best watched at present.
The race named in honour of the great Fred Winter chaser and former Hennessy winner Brown Chamberlin can go to Potters Cross (3.35) despite worries about the form of the Rebecca Curtis yard. The horse has form figures of UF over fences but is a winning point-to-pointer, is well handicapped on his hurdles form and would probably have won at Chepstow last time but for coming down five out. That wasn’t the best of races and he has his own way of getting from A to B but I could pick holes in the form of his six rivals and he gets the vote.
If the rain stays away Florrie Boy (5.20) can follow up last week’s Chepstow win for Nigel Twiston-Davis; the 5-y-old would be running from a mark 8lbs higher if the race were run 24 hours later although he might not have things all his own way with McCabe Creek also potentially better than his current mark.
The forecast suggests the rain might not reach Fontwell and I am pleased to see For Two (2.15) drop back in trip for Chris Gordon; the selection has certainly been given a chance by the handicapper and I remember his seasonal debut for Paul Nicholls when he jumped well on decent ground at Carlisle from a 19lbs higher mark; I’m convinced there’s a race in him over fences at around this 2m 2f trip.
At Wetherby Astrum deserves a change of luck having been raised 7lbs by the handicapper since coming down at the last when appearing to hold all the aces at Catterick last time; preference, however, is for Three Colours Red (4.25) who ran well in defeat when a close third at Haydock last month on his first start in a handicap. Significant rain would be a negative despite the fact that the selection has won on soft ground on the level.
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