Ordinarily I wouldn't be inclined to give you so much as a 'More tea, vicar?' for an episode of Murder Before Evensong, Channel 5's TV adaptation of Richard Coles' novel set in the 1980s, but last night, as my wife took in the finer detail of the fifth instalment, my own interest was piqued by Canon Daniel Clement's mother Audrey - played with a delightful serving of old school sanctimony by Amanda Redman - popping into the village on Grand National day for a copy of the Racing Post. At that time a copy of the Racing Post would have cost considerably less than £5.50.
Having studied the form, Audrey likes the look of Strands Of Gold for Aintree's 1988 showpiece.
Meanwhile Dora Sharman (Amanda Hadingue), one of two middle aged sisters who live together, walks straight into a licenced betting office, extracts two substantial wads of cash from her handbag, and asks to stick the lot on Rhyme 'N' Reason. 'To win,' adds Dora, with a certain air of determination, obviously intent on making a killing. Recently I had a £70 bet on a 9/4 chance knocked back by a rails bookmaker at Ludlow.
Various clips from the race are weaved into the storyline, complete with Sir Peter O'Sullevan's commentary: Strands Of Gold falls at Becher's second time around when in the lead, much to Audrey's dismay; Little Polveir takes up the running but unseats; Rhyme 'N' Reason is headed two out by Durham Edition but fights back tenaciously to lead on the long run-in, much to Dora's delight.
A wonderful race; and, of course, Little Polveir returned the following year to win.
Tomorrow's Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2.40 Aintree) is run over two miles five furlongs over the National fences but these days they're nowhere near as stiff as they were in the 1980s; 17 are set to face the starter with the going currently described as good to soft, with soft places located primarily from Becher's Brook to the fence after Valentines.
Skirting quickly over the form, two points catch my eye.
A few in the field have form over three miles and further while only six have run in the past 60 days: Jet Plane (54 days); If Not For Dylan (13); Vintage Fizz (54); Mahons Glory (24); Seddon (15 Flat); and Mount Tempest (27).
Last year King Turgeon collected the spoils off a mark of 125, with Vintage Fizz second, Gaboriot third, and Frero Banbou sixth.
David Pipe's grey put in some spectacular leaps that day but appears to have considerably more on his plate off 137 tomorrow on his first run for 242 days; the likelihood is this will have been a target, probably for the past 12 months.
Ollie Greenall and Josh Guerriero hold a strong hand with Gaboriot and White Rhino; the yard won the 2023 renewal with the ill-fated Gesskille, with the same horse pipped a nose by Al Dancer the year before.
Gaboriot, four and a half lengths third behind King Turgeon last year, races off a mark three pounds lower this time; all his chase victories in this country have come over three miles or further.
White Rhino is priced up favourite and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye.
Although nine years of age, the gelding still only has four chase starts to his name and he failed to complete in two of those - unseated at the third in the Kauto Star at Kempton and then last time pulled up before two out in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster where he was found to have bled from the nose. Connections clearly expect a big run but the lack of chase experience is a concern.
Owned by J P McManus, top weight Johnnywho has form in the book but looks to face a stiff task.
His third behind The Jukebox Man in the Grade 2 John Francome at Newbury reads well, and he was only beaten a neck in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March. He didn't appear to stay the extended trip when finishing a respectable fifth behind Haiti Couleurs in the Irish Grand National National at Fairyhouse.
Sam Thomas knows how to target a race - he won the 2022 renewal with Al Dancer. Our Power can go well fresh and has been backed but hasn't raced over this sort of trip since January 2022.
Excello looked to be in with a shout in this year's Topham back in April but a bad mistake two out put paid to his chance; he goes off a mark two pounds lower here.
Colonel Harry has useful novice form in the book.
He won the 2024 Towton at Wetherby, was third in the Scilly Isles at Sandown, and then sixth in the Turners at Cheltenham that March. He didn't appear to stay the trip when sent off a 10/1 chance for last year's Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and hasn't been seen since a fall at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
Vintage Fizz finished three and a quarter lengths behind Jagwar at Wetherby before running second in last year's renewal off 127.
His sixth behind Ballysax Hank in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen is perfectly respectable but he has been well beaten on his two most recent starts, showing a tendency to jump left on occasions at Worcester the last day. That said, he's three pounds lower this time and the booking of Sam Twiston-Davies catches my eye.
A fine leap at the Canal Turn took Frero Banbou past King Turgeon and into the lead last year.
Venetia Williams' charge travelled like the winner crossing the Melling Road but he just ran out of petrol between the final two flights, eventually finishing sixth. Third in the 2023 renewal, I just wonder whether his best chances of a win in the race are already behind him.
Jet Plane's second behind Gracchus De Baume over this course and distance in the Foxhunters in April - beaten a length - reads well; Team Skelton banged in three winners at Exeter this afternoon and another at Hexham.
Better known for his exploits on the Flat, Dylan Cunha saddles Mahons Glory who likes to front run but can jump left on occasions. This one has tended to show better form on good ground.
If Not For Dylan is another who races prominently and was third behind Torn And Frayed in a veterans' chase over the Mildmay fences 13 days ago; he's two pounds out of the handicap.
He jumped slightly right that day but a quick look over his form reveals that on occasions he has jumped left on a right-handed track. The yard registered a double at Hexham earlier today with Out Of The Woods and Hay Meadow.
Bleu d'Enfer has his first start for Donald McCain. Previously trained in Ireland, to date he has been campaigned primarily on right-handed tracks when racing over fences.
On his last two starts Nocte Volatus finished behind The Flier Begley and Dubai Days in veterans' chases.
Seddon and Happy And Fine both tend to be prominent in their races; age is catching up with the former while the latter has shown a preference for soft and heavy ground.
Finally a word for rank outsider Mount Tempest who moved from Dan Skelton's yard to Sophie Leech this summer.
After a couple of nondescript efforts over hurdles at Clairefontaine and Dieppe in France, he was sent off a 50/1 chance for a handicap chase at Worcester which he won at odds of 50/1, Jet Plane over ten lengths away in fifth and Vintage Fizz over 30 lengths adrift in seventh. Next time, with Sean Bowen up, he went off a 3/1 shot but ran a bit of a stinker behind Saint Segal and was pulled up in the home straight; after the race the handler indicated the gelding was not suited by the good to firm going.
He's something of a curate's egg and wouldn't be considered the most reliable of individuals but a year ago he finished fourth behind Jagwar at Bangor and on a good day, with the going on the soft side, I could see Mount Tempest outrunning odds of 66/1.
A competitive renewal which is likely to be run at a good clip with a few in the field keen to set the pace. After winning on Theonewedreamof at Exeter earlier this afternoon, jockey Harry Skelton had a word for Jet Plane who has been backed this evening.
I'm going to chance Mount Tempest who didn't do a tap when hitting the front at Worcester; he'll need to keep a tab on those front runners from the start.
I certainly won't be taking a leaf out of Dora Sharman's book but I will be saying my prayers just before the off.
Mount Tempest is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 66/1 with William Hill, BetVictor and Coral, all paying five places.
