Ratings Update: Aintree on the horizon

We’re now into something of a calm before the Cheltenham storm, but the Grand National is only a month or so away, and the latest weekend offered some well-timed opportunities for Aintree contenders to prepare for the big race.

Regrettably, the ground was considered unsuitable for 2017 National hero One For Arthur – who’ll go straight to Aintree after unseating in both races this season - to take his chance in Kelso’s Premier Chase. In theory, therefore, Black Corton’s (156 from 158) task should have been a still easier one, but a hard race at Ascot two weeks earlier had possibly left its mark as he went down by half a length in a muddling race to the novice Blue Flight (138p from 132p).  The strapping Blue Flight hadn’t set foot over fences until the turn of the year, but he has now won his last three and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies mentioned the Scottish National as a possibility, a race he’s won in the past with the novices Captain Dibble and Earth Summit.

Black Corton and Blue Flight battle it out up the run in and its the latter who claims the top prize in the Belhaven Brewery Premier Chase for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Caullum Bewley 👏 pic.twitter.com/u16ilvJZ2S

— Kelso Racecourse (@KelsoRacecourse) 2 March 2019

Last year’s Scottish National winner Joe Farrell (139 from 141) returned to action for the first time since Ayr in a competitive veterans’ handicap chase at Newbury. With no let-up in the gallop, it made for a thorough test of jumping and fitness (Joe Farrell’s run in sixth wasn’t devoid of promise in the circumstances) and had a dramatic conclusion. Theatre Guide (143 from 135+) looked to have things sewn up in the straight until a bad blunder at the last enabled the staying-on Carole’s Destrier (140 from 138) to collar him in the final fifty yards. The winner has the Grand National among his future entries (the Scottish equivalent a possibility if he doesn’t make the cut), while Aintree hope Abolitionist (150 from 151), who finished only fifth in the end, went with plenty of encouragement on his first start over fences for the best part of two years, a run which qualifies him to take his chance in the big one next month, his trainer Dr Richard Newland having won the 2014 Grand National with Pineau de Re.

What a finish we had to the William Hill Supporting Greatwood Veterans' Chase on Saturday!

Carole's Destrier took advantage of Theatre Guide's poor final jump to take the win.

Catch up: https://t.co/EZ2NAlwJml pic.twitter.com/TaTOt7pH6S

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) 4 March 2019

Another National entry in action at Newbury was Warrior’s Tale (remains on 150), though the Topham may be a better target over the big fences for the Grand Sefton winner who seemed not to stay in last year’s Grand National. He shaped better than the bare result finishing down the field in the Greatwood Gold Cup won by stable-companion San Benedeto (154 from 147+) who gave Paul Nicholls a ninth win in the race. The winner took advantage of a falling mark, not having won since a highly successful novice campaign two seasons ago, and is now Topham bound. Also of note was the performance in second of Gala Ball (144+ from 143?) who was having his first start for almost two years.

Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Chase has sometimes been a Grand National pointer in the past, though the only one of the seven runners with an engagement this year was Looking Well (141 from 139) who was running a cracker but probably booked for second when falling at the last. Nicky Richards was denied a one-two as that left stable-companion Chidswell (131 from 125) clear, the reliable winner running a career-best on his first try beyond three miles.

Chidswell wins the 888Sport Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at @DoncasterRaces ahead of Dingo Dollar

Watch LIVE on @ITV pic.twitter.com/Y7sOhM5MJX

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) 2 March 2019

Over in Ireland on Sunday, Woods Well (142 from 134) survived a last-fence blunder at a snowy Leopardstown to win a class B handicap chase, and while he’s another National entry, Gordon Elliott said afterwards he could take his chance in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.

While chasers took centre stage over the weekend, Philip Hobbs had a couple of good winners in handicap hurdles. The fitting of cheekpieces seemed to help Who’s My Jockey (140 from 137) return to winning ways at Doncaster over three miles, though his ten-length win came in a weak race for the grade. At Newbury, novice Crooks Peak (136p from 131p) completed a hat-trick on his handicap debut, and with something up his sleeve. The penalty for that win should get him into the County Hurdle, and he’d make a fair bit of appeal in that contest.