HIGHAND MIGHTY
HIGHLAND LODGE can make a winning reappearance in ‘his’ race, the Randox Health Becher Chase (1.30) at Aintree.
Two years ago, the 11-year-old marked his debut for James Moffatt with a 20-1 success over the Grand National fences.
And 12 months later Henry Brooke’s mount so nearly pulled off the double, holding a three-length lead on the Elbow but agonisingly reeled in by Vieux Lion Rouge, who scored by a short head.
Highland Lodge competes from a 1lb higher mark this afternoon but has been aimed at this race by his trainer, and rates the value alternative to favourite Blaklion.
Aintree’s other race over the famous obstacles, the 188Bet Grand Sefton Chase (3.10), fell to Paul Nicholls and Sean Bowen with As De Mee in 2016 and the duo can repeat the trick with SAMETEGAL.
The French import was a progressive novice over fences a couple of seasons ago, before missing the last campaign with a tendon injury.
But there was much to like about Sametegal’s comeback at Wetherby last month, when he finished a seven-length second to Guitar Pete, and the eight-year-old is fancied to go one better here.
Nicholls and Bowen also combine with MALAYA, who should justify short odds in the 188Bet Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (2.05).
It was no disgrace for Trevor Hemmings’ CLOUDY DREAM to chase home Fox Norton in Cheltenham’s Shloer Chase last time out, and a reproduction of that effort will make him hard to beat in the heat named after the owner’s 2015 Grand National hero, the 188bet. co.uk Many Clouds Chase (2.35).
Colin Tizzard, who saddles hotpot Fox Norton in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, has strong claims of capturing the other Grade 1 at the Esher track, the randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (1.45), with FINIAN’S OSCAR.
The five-year-old was a top-level scorer over the smaller obstacles here when landing the Tolworth at the start of the year, and has impressed with novice chase successes at Chepstow and Cheltenham. He has plenty more to offer.
Irish raider CROSSED MY MIND made a solid comeback third at Down Royal five weeks ago, and it would be no surprise to see JP Mcmanus’s five-year-old attract support in the December Handicap Hurdle (2.20).
After his win in Fontwell’s Southern National, CRESSWELL BREEZE gets the vote to go in again in the Betfair London National Handicap Chase (3.30).