WELSH GRAND NATIONAL DAY

Racing Preview

Racing is on as Chepstow, Kempton and Wincanton pass their inspections and we’re in for a treat as ITV will be covering a bumper 10-race card.

12:35 Kempton:

THE DOMINO EFFECT showed improvement over course and distance when finishing second to Superkalanistic, clocking a decent speed figure and a career high RPR of 124. The winner won quite well that day, quickening clear from the front, but I was impressed at how The Domino Effect knuckled down and came out of the pack to chase him. The Emma Lavelle trained gelding was giving the winner 3lbs, and finished nearly two-lengths ahead of Jonjo O’Neill’s Morning Spirit, who came out and won by eight lengths on his next start. While the Paul Nicholls trained Barbados Buck’s is sure to prove popular at the head of the market, I feel there’s enough reason to take him on with The Domino Effect.

1pt WIN – The Domino Effect (12.35) – 7/2

2:20 Kempton & 2:55 Kempton

McFabulous and Imperial Aura are certain to feature among many horse racing multiples and they certainly fit the ‘sexy fav’ stereotype with plenty of 1s beside their names. While they both deserve to be favourite, I’m not completely convinced by either of them in the context of today’s races and I’m going to take them on with two horses I feel are overpriced.

SUMMERVILLE BOY has no secrets in the closet and he’s as good as he has shown, but I still feel he’s being underestimated at around 13/2. He ran a cracker in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and ran to an RPR of 159 when winning at Aintree next time out. He backed that up with a good reappearance behind Thyme Hill at Newbury, his first run of the season, and he was only beaten three-lengths in The International last time, a race which turned into a sprint over a trip too short for him. The intermediate trip today is ideal for him, and there should be a decent pace in the race with Younevercall leading from the front. He has to make up 2.75 lengths with McFabulous on their Newbury run, but he was conceding race fitness that day and when you compare 11/10 v 13/2, I know who I’d rather be on.

1pt WIN – Summerville Boy (2.20) – 13/2

Being by Scorpion, RIDERS ONTHE STORM comes with a warning sign and he has shown a glimmer of madness in the past, but there’s no doubting he has a serious engine and I think he’ll be primed to take the scalp of the favourite in the 2.55. It’s hard to forget the performances he put in when winning three on the bounce last season, and he was travelling well when coming down four from home in the Ryanair. He ran with the choke out last time but that should have left him spot on for this. Imperial Aura and Master Tommytucker are likely to go forward, so he’ll get a lovely toe into the race and I’m hoping he has enough ability and class to go and win.

1pt WIN – Riders On the Storm (2.55) – 11/2

3:30 Kempton

The Lanzarote is a highly competitive race but I’m going to side with THE WHITE MOUSE who is a mare on the improve and looks to have further improvement in her. She was travelling well when coming down on the home bend in a race won by Annie Mc a couple of years ago. She had some time on the sidelines after, but showed she retains all of her ability when winning two on the bounce at Wincanton and Cheltenham. She is a very genuine mare and this will be her ‘Champion Hurdle’, which cannot be said for some of her rivals who may be eyeing bigger prizes later in the season.

1pt EW – The White Mouse (3.30 Kempton) – 12/1 (6 places BF/PP) (7 places @ 11/1 with Sky)

3.10 Chepstow (The Coral Welsh Grand National)

This is going to a dour test in the ground, which is certain to be the toughest most of these will have ever encountered. You can make a case for many, but I’m siding with TRUCKERS LODGE who was second in the race last year, albeit off a 16lb lower mark, a hike he received for dotting up in the Midlands National. He was cantering when he came down last time, and he’s sure to be bang off for his, especially with Welsh native Lorcan Williams on his back.

1pt EW – TRUCKERS LODGE – (3.10 Chepstown) – 12/1 (5 places)