FAKIR D’OUDAIRES can land a big prize for Ireland in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase.
Joseph O'Brien's chaser is as tough as they come and bounded clear by 11 lengths in this race 12 months ago. Returning in his usual consistent manner, JP McManus' seven-year-old recorded a 15-length score at Grade 2 level in November.
There was no disgrace in finding Allaho too good subsequently and Fakir D’Oudairies sent favourite home backers at Ascot who expected a top level triumph. Another big performance should be on the way in front of the packed enclosures on Ladies Day.
Newsboy's tips for Ladies Day at Aintree
1.45
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 COBBLERS DREAM
2 FILS D’OUDAIRES
3 PEKING ROSE
COBBLERS DREAM enhanced his reputation despite a first handicap hurdles defeat at Cheltenham – and should again go well.
The Ben Case-saddled son of Yeats started off in the sphere with a British Horseracing Authority rating of 122, and proved well ahead of that assessment with a three-length defeat of Leoncavallo at Doncaster 15 days before Christmas.
The assessor stepped in with a 6lb hike but my selection defied his nemesis with a five-and-a-half-length supremacy in Kempton Park’s prestigious Lanzarote Hurdle in mid-January, in the process earning a crack at the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at last month’s National Hunt Festival.
Sent off at 12-1 in a field of 23, the six-year-old, partnered as today by Jack Andrews, travelled with purpose when joining leader Banbridge on the run to the final flight.
In the final throes it was the Joseph O’Brien trainee who proved the stronger, scoring by a length and a half, with Quinta Do Mar in 12th and Lucky Max and favourite Langer Dan early casualties.
But Cobblers Dream still has more to offer on his seventh attempt over obstacles and Aintree’s flatter layout will help his bid to overcome a further 4lb rise.
In a trappy opener, Fils D’Oudairies and Mackenberg and Peking Rose are also on the list
2.20
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 JONBON
2 FIRST STREET
3 EL FABIOLO
JONBON looks a worthy favourite to rack up the first – but almost certainly not the last – Grade 1 win of his career.
The six-year-old’s early years were weighed down by expectation – he’s a full brother to the great Douvan and was sold for a record-equalling £570,000 after landing a Dromahane point-to-point in November 2020.
But Jonbon has made light of his eye-watering price-tag – JP McManus was the winning bidder – starting with an impressive bumper score at Newbury last March.
Walk In The Park’s son enjoyed a six-length supremacy at the Berkshire track in November on his hurdles debut, following up in Grade 2 company at Ascot eight days before Christmas.
Jonbon had to roll his sleeves up to defy a penalty in Haydock Park’s Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle next time, before taking on eight opponents for the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
Those rivals included fellow Nicky Henderson representative Constitution Hill, who thundered to a 22-length victory over his stablemate.
Jonbon, who had kept tabs on exuberant leader Dysart Dynamo before his fall three out, had no more to offer once headed at the second-last, but sets the standard here.
Another Seven Barrows runner, First Street, enters calculations on his second in Cheltenham’s County Hurdle, while Irish pair El Fabiolo and Vina Ardanza are others with more to offer.
2.55
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 L’HOMME PRESSE
2 BRAVEMANSGAME
3 AHOY SENOR
L’HOMME PRESSE gets the vote to defend his unbeaten record over fences.
Since capturing a handicap chase at Exeter in December on his debut in the sphere, the Venetia Williams seven-year-old has gone from strength to strength.
L’Homme Presse followed up at Ascot in December before announcing his arrival in the big league with a 10-length margin in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Williams welcomed her first Grade 1 success for 20 years – and jockey Charlie Deutsch the first of his career – when Diamond Boy’s son lifted Sandown Park’s Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase by 12 lenths at the start of February.
Most recently, tackling three miles for the first time in Cheltenham’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, L’Homme Presse was imperious in galloping to a three-and-a-half-length success from Ahoy Senor.
With Fury Road seemingly up against it, Bravemansgame, a late scratching from the National Hunt Festival on account of heavy rain on its second day, is four from four over the larger obstacles and should follow my selection home.
3.30
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES
2 PAINT THE DREAM
3 FUNAMBULE SIVOLA
FAKIR D’OUDAIRES won this race with panache 12 months ago – and the follow-up is very much on the cards.
An 11-length victor from Nuts Well in 2021, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old made his return to the fray this term with a 15-length score in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase in November.
The Joseph O’Brien-saddled son of Kapgarde didn’t match that form when fourth to Allaho in the top-level John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase the following month, chasing home Willie Mullins’ superstar at a distance of 12 lengths in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles in January.
With no Allaho in his way, Fakir D’Oudairies started the 9-4 favourite for the Grade 1 Ascot Chase 48 days ago.
Mark Walsh’s partner travelled easily into the straight and, despite an untidy jump at the second-last fence, took up the running at the final obstacle to beat Two For Gold by a length and three-quarters, with Mister Fisher well beaten in fourth and Saint Calvados pulled up.
Rain overnight into yesterday has tailored the ground conditions to my selection’s liking and Fakir D’Oudairies, setting the standard the others have to aim at, rates a strong runner to become the sixth horse to win this race twice.
Paint The Dream landed Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup by an effortless 15 lengths last time and is well worth his place in the line-up, with Queen Mother Champion Chaser runner-up Funambule Sivola and the admiral Sceau Royal other candidates for the podium.
4.05
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 KILLER CLOWN
2 SIZING POTTSIE
3 PALMERS HILL
KILLER CLOWN comes here with something of a chessboard profile but looks the type to thrive for a first crack at the National fences.
Evidently needing his return to action in the Old Roan Chase over the regulation fences here in October, Getaway’s son faded into sixth, and occupied the same position in a handicap chase on Newbury’s Ladbrokes Trophy undercard just over a month later.
Emma Lavelle then fitted Killer Clown with a tongue strap and the ploy bore instant fruit with a nine-and-a-half-length success at Wincanton at the start of January.
Killer Clown reappeared at Ascot a fortnight later but went out like a light on the run to the home turn, pulling up two out – Palmers Hill drew stumps at the same obstacle – behind Phoenix Way.
But an eight-week break proved the pause that refreshes as my selection was back to winning form with an eight-length supremacy at Kempton Park on the Saturday of Cheltenham week last month.
Tom Bellamy’s mount jumps with pizazz, so the famous obstacles should hold no terrors.
Mister Coffee, Spiritofthegames, Mac Tottie and Sizing Pottsie are all worth a second look in a race every bit as abstruse as the National itself.
4.40
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 BANBRIDGE
2 SKYTASTIC
3 FAIR FRONTIERES
BANBRIDGE has the potential to bridge the gap between handicaps and the highest level.
Joseph O’Brien has brought the son of Doyen from humble beginnings – Banbridge was beaten in three point-to-points and a bumper before a victory in the latter sphere at Killarney in May.
That success sparked an upturn in the six-year-old’s fortunes – Banbridge got off to a winning start over hurdles at Punchestown at the end of that month, following up at Roscommon in July.
The hat-trick bid came up short with a fourth to Willie Mullins’ M C Muldoon at the Galway Festival next time, before an unlucky seventh in a novices’ handicap event at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.
But JJ Slevin’s mount was back on track at Navan in January before taking in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham three weeks ago.
My selection defied odds of 12-1 in the final race of the four-day fixture, responding generously to his rider’s calls to beat Cobblers Dream by a length and a half.
The climb to the winning post over an extended two and a half miles triggered a personal best in Banbridge, who is expected to take another step forward for the additional four furlongs here.
As the only unbeaten runner in the line-up, Skytastic – the Sam Thomas trainee has hurdles scores at Doncaster and Ascot to add to two in bumpers – is entitled to respect, as are Crystal Glory and Fair Frontieres.
5.15
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 WHIZZ KID
2 LIVELY CITIZEN
3 WASHINGTON
WHIZZ KID has been given a chance by the assessor as he makes his handicap hurdles debut.
A decent runner on the Flat for Peter Schiergen – he won a valuable handicap at Saint-Cloud in October – Whizz Kid marked his first start for Dr Richard Newland with a last of five in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.
His sights lowered considerably for a maiden hurdle at Catterick Bridge at the start of last month, the son of Teofilo cantered to a 27-length success.
And the six-year-old hardly came out of second gear to defy a 7lb penalty at Ludlow 22 days later, beating Kellahen by nine and a half lengths.
Bearing in mind his ability on the level and the promise he has shown in a nascent career over obstacles, Whizz Kid has the look of a well-treated horse with a British Horseracing Authority mark of 125 – and Cillin Leonard’s 5lb claim is the icing on the cake.
Washington is heading in the right direction and has a claim on a minor medal, along with Lively Citizen and Hacker Des Places.
Please gamble responsibly
Everyone at Reach is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit begambleaware.org.
