YOUR OWN STORY is fancied to give Lucinda Russell a National double with a victory in the Coral Scottish Grand National (3.35) at Ayr on Saturday.
It’s a week since Corach Rambler gave Perthshire-based Russell and jockey Derek Fox, successful with One For Arthur in 2017, their second triumph in a dramatic Grand National at Aintree. And the seven-year-old Your Own Story has solid claims of keeping the pair in the headlines.
My selection has yet to finish out of the frame in seven attempts over fences and relished the three-mile, seven-furlong stamina test when scoring by five lengths at Wetherby at the beginning of last month.
Sixteen days later, Your Own Story was strong at the finish when a half-length second to Equus Dreamer over an extended three and a half miles at Haydock Park.
The handicapper has reacted with a 3lb rise but Fox’s mount – stablemate Mighty Thunder lifted the trophy two years ago – has plenty more to offer and can pocket the £112,540 first prize. Elsewhere ATRIUM is the value call against hot favourite Lattam in the BetGoodwin Spring Cup (3.15) at Newbury.
The market leader got out of trouble to lift the Irish Lincoln at the Curragh by a short head last month and must go well in his follow-up bid – but the bookies know all about him.
Atrium’s bid for the Lincoln at Doncaster three weeks ago came up short – Charlie Fellowes’ four-year-old returned 15 th of the 22 runners behind Migration.
But forgive that below-par run – the heavy ground on Town Moor was the deepest the Charlie Fellowes trainee had encountered – and you’ve got a horse with a 30 per cent strike rate in handicaps with the promise of more to come.
Previously successful in the sphere at Ascot in July, my selection ended last season with scores over course and distance and at Doncaster in August and September 2022, and a 4lb rise for the latter win looks within range.
He’s a 5-1 shot with William Hill for next month’s 2,000 Guineas, and CHALDEAN should enhance his Classic claims in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (2.40).
Andrew Balding’s son of Frankel crowned a juvenile campaign with a head margin from Royal Scotsman in the top-level Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October, and there will be some long faces at Kingsclere if his colours are lowered here.
The betting for Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2.05) is much more open, with SOUL SISTER the pick.
Another of Frankel’s progeny – dam Dream Peace was a Group 2 winner in France – Soul Sister overcame greenness for a perfect debut at Doncaster last October and has barely scratched beneath the surface.
Hurricane Lane will go off at short odds for the opening Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (1.30) but preference is for MAX VEGA.
At Ayr, COLONEL MUSTARD is the selection to give Lorna Fowler the biggest prize of her training career by beating 10 opponents for the Coral Scottish Champion Handicap Hurdle (2.25).
Makfi’s son suffered an overreach when finishing second to Benson in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on his most recent start.
That injury, caused by contact between a hind foot and a fore limb, ruled the eight-year-out of a quick return to action in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, but Colonel Mustard is now back in rude health and ready to overcome a 2lb nudge up the weights.
Despite a hefty reverse when ninth in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham, ELIXIR DE NUTZ has plenty going for him in the opening Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (1.15), and another National Hunt Festival flop – DATSALRIGHTGINO – gets the chance to atone in the Grade 2 Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase (3.00).
On the back of successes at Hereford and Wetherby – the latter in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase – CITY CHIEF has further improvement to draw upon as he bids to give his rivals weight and a beating in the CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (1.50).
