A capacity crowd of 42,000 is expected at Aintree tomorrow following the course's initiative to hand out free tickets for Betfred Becher Chase day.
I've spent my time looking at Sandown's Tingle Creek card but my throw-away suggestion for the Aintree feature at 1.30 is Mr Moonshine who clearly handles the National fences having finished third behind Chance du Roy in this race last year (and subsequently completed the Grand National in fifteenth).
The going on the course is officially described as good to soft, soft in places which should help the cause and Sue Smith's charge also has a couple of runs under his belt. Granted, the gelding appears to have his fair share of weight but pilot Daragh Bourke claims five.
At the time of writing Mr Moonshine, 22/1 with William Hill who pay a quarter the odds five places, rates a sporting each-way wager.
The Tingle Creek (3.00) tops the bill at Sandown.
Layers appear to have taken the view that Alan King's Balder Succes, beaten five lengths in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (Pepite Rose fifth, Somersby sixth, Hinterland pulled up), should reverse placings with Tom George's God's Own on seven pounds better terms.
The star turns, Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, may be missing but several in the field are closely matched on official ratings:
163 Balder Succes (3/1)
162 God's Own (4/1)
162 Somersby (17/2 Skybet)
158 Dodging Bullets (10/1 Boylesports)
157 Oscar Whisky (13/2 bet365)
In addition Harry Fry's Vukovar (152) has come in for market support during the week and is currently rated an 8/1 chance.
4/1 looks a fair price about God's Own - handler Tom George is pretty bullish in a piece published in today's edition of The Times.
10/1 Dodging Bullets is value but in the past he has shown a tendency to jump left on occasions when racing right-handed.
Oscar Whisky is very talented but this is his first try at two miles over fences and his jumping may suffer, particularly at this most exacting of tracks.
God's Own gets the nod.
There's No Panic beat Court By Surprise in last year's London National but Emma Lavelle's charge hasn't made the final declarations for this year's renewal at 3.35.
Emperor's Choice, second to Gas Line Boy at Haydock a fortnight ago, should appreciate underfoot conditions.
At 9/2 with William Hill and Coral, Emperor's Choice is the selection for Sandown's finale.
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1 comment:
No festive joy with these selections...
The leaders always appeared to be going half a stride too fast for Mr Moonshine (25/1) who lost his midfeld position from Valentines on the second circuit - he was pulled up three out in a race won by Oscar Time (25/1).
I said my prayers before the Tingle Creek and I guess jockey Paddy Brennan said his all the way round as God's Own (4/1) hit the first hard and then proceeded to put in an indifferent round of jumping that was nowhere near good enough; the honours went to Dodging Bullets (9/1) who held Somersby (8/1) two and a half lengths. The race was marred by the fall of Oscar Whisky who suffered an injury and had to be put down.
Plenty of money for Emperor's Choice in the London National who was sent off the 11/4 joint favourite. Harry Haynes led from the start aboard bottom weight Tales Of Milan and the gelding saw off all-comers, staying on strongly to beat There's No Panic (7/2) one and three quarter lengths with the selection back in fourth, unable to quicken with the leaders as they came to the Pond Fence.
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