Tag: Lie Forrit

Scottish Grand National Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

If punters have any money left after the Irish and Aintree Grand Nationals, a maximum field looks guaranteed for Saturday’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

This race is usually just an after-thought for horses that were aimed at, or fell in, the big race at Liverpool. With only one week between the two, it is looking more like a consolation prize for those that missed the cut at Aintree.

Gallant Oscar and Broadway Buffalo certainly come into that category, the former having already missed Fairyhouse in the vain hope of squeezing into last week’s field. Tony Martin’s gelding ran a fine race behind The Druid’s Nephew at Cheltenham but the going could be on the quick side for him by Saturday.

Broadway Buffalo would have been the Grand National ride of Katie Walsh but David Pipe’s gelding also missed out. He also ran well at the festival to chase home Cause Of Causes in the four-miler. I am not entirely convinced that he will run two races alike and prefer to look elsewhere.

One horse that did make the cut at Aintree was Peter Bowen’s Al Co. Unfortunately he then unseated Denis O’Regan at the first when jinking away from a rival. He continued without his rider for a few fences which he jumped without further mishap. I would not normally be tempted by a first fence faller but he won this race last year and is only 5lbs higher. He should have perfect ground conditions and the stable is in fantastic form with a strike rate approaching 60% in recent days.

Seventeen-year-old Sean Bowen enjoyed his first National ride when finishing eleventh on Mon Parrain and he is in the saddle this weekend. Jamie Moore rode Al Co last year, surviving a nasty moment when the horse ducked away on the run-in and almost unseated him.

There are several horses here that would really appreciate some juice in the ground and that certainly includes Benvolio, the mount of Tony McCoy. He was a brave second in the Welsh National but this is a different kettle of fish altogether. Stable companion Sam Winner looks to have plenty of weight, although that is not necessarily a bar to success as shown by Many Clouds on Saturday.

My best long shot is Harry The Viking who has been running well without winning. He had a titanic battle with Lie Forrit at Haydock and should get the better of that rival on this better ground. He looks good each-way value at around 28-1.

Al Co @16-1 Ladbrokes

Harry The Viking @28-1 Betfair

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Haydock Grand National Trial Preview

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The Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock is the big betting race this weekend. It has not always lived up to its billing with trainers reluctant to give their National horses a hard race in testing ground ahead of the Aintree marathon.

One horse that definitely has Aintree as his main objective is Monbeg Dude, seventh behind Pineau de Re in April. He ran in this race two years ago when coming from a different county to finish third behind Well Refreshed. The going was heavy that day and he carried 10st 12lb. On Saturday he is set to race off 11st 11lb and the conditions may well be similar if the forecast rain arrives.

On the plus side, he has run two excellent National trials this season when fourth in the Hennessy at Newbury and fourth in the Welsh National at Chepstow. The latter race often holds the key here and four of the first five are entered this weekend. Benvolio carried our each-way support and was unlucky to be beaten on the nod by Emperor’s Choice after a real battle over the final few fences.

Glenquest has looked set to spring a 33-1 shock when leading between the last two but the Irish challenger just got weary on the run-in and hung away to his left. He has not raced since but cannot be discounted off only a 4lbs higher mark. The stable landed a nice gamble with Yes Tom at Ayr in midweek and Glenquest won’t mind how deep the ground gets.

Benbens is another who is at his best when the mud is flying and he ran a super race at the last meeting here when just failing to catch Samstown. He looks a hard ride and Ryan Hatch will have to earn his fee. More importantly, Hatch claims 5lbs which means Benbens is 10lbs better off with Samstown for a neck and has an extra half mile to travel. Providing that race did not take too much out of him, he is going to be difficult to keep out of the frame.

Lucinda Russell won this race in consecutive seasons with Silver By Nature and could run Lie Forrit. He was a good hurdler a few years ago and has gradually improved over fences. Rigadin de Beauchene won this last year but has pulled up on all three subsequent starts.

Benbens @10-1 Betfair

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Haydock Fixed Brush Hurdle Preview

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As well as a recognised Gold Cup Trial in the Betfair Chase, Haydock’s Saturday card also features the Grade 3 Fixed Brush Hurdle. This race has been won by some very useful sorts in its 8-year history, notably Halcon Genelardais, Grands Crus and Dynaste.

The last two of those were trained by the in-form David Pipe who saddled a four-timer at Cheltenham on Sunday paying over 5,000-1. His representative this year is a full-brother to Grands Crus in the useful Gevrey Chambertin.

The grey was heavily backed to win the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March but was never travelling and was eventually pulled up. He reappeared at Aintree but again weakened quickly in the home straight in the race won by At Fishers Cross. It may well be that he can bounce back to form here but it doesn’t look a risk worth taking at 7-1.

Paul Nicholls had to endure a frustrating weekend at Cheltenham last week with only one winner to show for his troubles. He looked sure to collect with Sametegal in the Greatwood Hurdle and again when Salubrious and Southfield Theatre battled out the finish of the staying handicap hurdle. Both were passed late on but the latter lost nothing in defeat and could turn out again here off the same mark. He travelled well throughout the race and makes plenty of appeal at the current prices.

Another I like here is Lucinda Russell’s Lie Forrit who returned to something like his best at Wetherby recently. He was a decent staying hurdler back in 2009 and won off a mark a few pounds higher than he is set to race off on Saturday. He made the running at Wetherby and, not surprisingly for a horse that had been over fences, he ballooned a couple of the early flights. He warmed to his task as the race went on and should run well again this weekend.

Alan King likes to get one ready for this and it would be no surprise to see Two Rockers run well whilst Gullinbursti is tough and comes from another in-form yard, that of Emma Lavelle. Trustan Times ran well last time but has a lot of weight to carry and Ely Brown is useful but would probably like it softer.

Southfield Theatre (each-way) 11-1 888Sport

Lie Forrit (each-way) 14-1 William Hill, Stan James