ASHTOWN LAD can win the Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.05pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
Dan Skelton’s eight-year-old can give his trainer a third big Saturday pot in a row with victory the Grade Three feature run over the Randox Grand National fences at the Liverpool track.
Skelton took the Grade One Betfair Chase with Protektorat at Haydock Park two weeks ago, then saw Le Milos land the prestigious Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase last Saturday – first victories for the trainer in both. Now he can land a first success over the big Aintree obstacles with Ashtown Lad.
With the Skelton stable in such good form any horse he aims at the big Saturday contests deserves a second look. And there is plenty to believe that Ashtown Lad can land the 3m2f contest and advertise his claims for the world’s greatest steeplechase back at Aintree on April 15 in the New Year.
The Fleminsfirth gelding was a decent hurdler winning at Wetherby and Uttoxeter as well as finishing fourth at the Grand National Festival in 2021 – but he always appeared to have a bigger future over fences and he could develop into a top staying chaser.
Although he has only won one of his five chase starts – on his debut over the bigger obstacles at Wetherby last October – he has run some other decent races. He was second in a Limited Handicap Chase at Haydock Park and was better than the bare result when fifth in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April. He warmed up for his return to chasing with a decent third to Remastered over hurdles at Aintree last month and he can go very close to victory.
He appears a solid jumper and stays and if he takes to the big fences may have his rivals chasing him home.
There are a bumper 23 set to line up so there are plenty of dangers including recent Grand Sefton Chase runner-up Gesskille; last year’s one-two – Charlie Longsdon’s Snow Leopardess and the Sandy Thomson-trained Hill Sixteen; Willie Mullins’ Cork National winner Captain Kangaroo; and last season’s Tommy Whittle Chase hero Enqarde.
The Grade Two Boylesports Many Clouds Chase (GBB Race) (1.30pm) sees the return to Aintree of Grand National hero Noble Yeats – but CHANTRY HOUSE, another who has had success at the track in the past, who can triumph.
Noble Yeats moves up into Grade Two company but faces two Grade One Novices’ Chase Aintree scorers Chantry House and the Lucinda Russell-trained Ahoy Senor. And they may fight out the finish with Nicky Henderson’s Chantry House – who has had wind surgery since been pulled up in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March – who may just come out on top.
Paul Nicholls’ French import DIXON COVE – a wide-margin winner on his British debut in a Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at Hereford last month – can make it two from two under Harry Skelton in the Listed Boylesports Moneyback Meetings Everyday Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.55pm).
The Richard Hobson-trained RIDERS ONTHE STORM provided owners – Southport-born Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott, from Aigburth – with another 'home' victory in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October. And the nine-year-old can score again in the Boylesports Daily Money Back 2nd Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.40pm).
Harry Skelton could have a profitable day in the saddle at Aintree and it may start with another of his brother’s runners, ETALON, in the opener, the Boylesports Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (11.45am).
The five-year-old can build on his debut second at Warwick last month to open his account over obstacles.
Others who can triumph at the famous Liverpool track are Nigel Twiston-Davies’ BROADWAY BOY in the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.20pm) and another from the Skelton stable LANGER DAN – who won over course and distance at the Grand National meeting in April – in the finale, the Boylesports Extra Places Daily Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.15pm).
At Sandown SHISHKIN can get back on track with victory in the Grade One Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (GBB Race) (2.55pm) and deny Greaneteen a famous hat-trick of victories.
Nicky Henderson’s two-mile chasing star had won seven from seven when he went to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March as favourite. He disappointed hugely before being pulled up. But he can bounce back on his return to action and deny Nicholls’ Greaneteen his hat-trick.
Stable-mate JONBON made a winning start to his chasing career and he can make it two from two in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm) ahead of the improving Boothill.
David Pipe’s RED HAPPY looks to have a good each-way chance in the Winners Wear Cavani Menswear London National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.30pm).
Others who may score at Sandown are Skelton’s WEST BALBOA – who missed an engagement last week due to the ground – in the Goffs Tingle Creek Sale Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (12.35pm); the Donald McCain-trained NAYATI in the Betfair Daily Rewards Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.20pm); and Nicholls’ HALO DES OBEAUX in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.10pm).
Wright Ones
AINTREE
11.45am Etalon
12.20pm Broadway Boy
12.55pm Dixon Cove
1.30pm Chantry House
2.05pm Ashtown Lad (NAP)
2.40pm Riders Onthe Storm
3.15pm Langer Dan
SANDOWN
12pm William Of York
12.35pm West Balboa
1.10pm Halo Des Obeaux
1.45pm Jonbon
2.20pm Nayati
2.55pm Shishkin
3.30pm Red Happy
CHEPSTOW
11.53am Top Of The Bill
12.27pm Makin’yourmindup
1.02pm Smackwater Jack
1.37pm Secret Reprieve
2.12pm Manothepeople
2.47pm Knowsley Road
3.22pm God’s Own Getaway
WETHERBY
11.40am Top Target
12.13pm Black Opium
12.48pm Learntalot
1.23pm Grange Ranger
1.58pm Word Has It
2.33pm Tango Boy
3.08pm Whozatgirl
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.20pm Motawaafeq
5.50pm Demilion
6.20pm Muscika
6.50pm Swift Asset
7.20pm Pirate King
7.50pm Carzola
8.20pm Queen Of Ipanema
SUNDAY’S NAP: All About Joe (Kelso 1.05pm)
