PAY THE PIPER (4.40) should call the tune in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase.
Despite being named after the most famous Grand National winner of them all, this race is run over 2m. That will suit Ann Hamilton’s hope.
He does stay further but he is at his best over this minimum chase distance.
All his runs over fences have come in much smaller fields and he shapes like he will appreciate the likely end-to-gallop of this competitive contest.
Last season’s neck second to smart Midnight River shows what he is capable of and he comes into this race in good form.
His smooth Musselburgh victory was followed by a sound effort when touched off a nose at Doncaster.
This race could be ideal for him. Have 2pts each-way at 9-1. Most bookies are paying out on four places with Sky Bet stretching to five.
Gary Moore has his team in sensational form and he fires two bullets at the Jewson Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle.
His son Jamie rides Bo Zenith but I prefer the chances of PERSEUS WAY (2.20).
A mistake at the last was his undoing when trying to give weight to Irish raider Nusret in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in February. That was still a fine effort considering he was hampered by the fall of Sarsons Risk at a crucial time.
He wasn’t disgraced in the Boodles Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but the ground was probably softer than he cares for. Conditions will be more to his liking today. Have 1pt each-way at 14-1.
There’ll be no end of guessing games around those at the top of the market in the Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ NH Flat Race.
CASA NO MENTO (5.15) has no such concerns having followed her Hereford win with an excellent second in a Listed Sandown bumper on heavy last month.
I’m convinced she will be considerably better on this drier ground. Have 1pt each-way at 28-1.
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