Milan can score in National
NATIVE RIVER turned Wales’ premier race — the Coral Welsh Grand National — into a procession in 2016.
However, there’s no potential Cheltenham Gold Cup runners in the line-up today and, as such, this rescheduled contest is more typical of previous renewals.
The trends needed a bit of tinkering but the most important to finding our likely hero are:
■ Winner of no more than five chases — with at least one over 3m.
■ Raced in the past 50 days.
■ Placed in top four last time and carrying less than 11st.
Those stats reduce the qualifiers to only two from 20 runners.
Colin Tizzard’s yard seems out of sorts at the moment so
is best left alone.
Alfie Spinner — who would be the oldest winner since 1950 were he to do the business here — had a length behind when second to Wild West
Wind in a three-miler at this track last month.
They meet on the same terms today but, as ever with form, nothing is literal.
Neil King’s runner was staying on in the style of a horse who will be seen to even better effect over this longer trip.
Milansbar is currently more favourably weighted of the pair following a poor run of form and will also be helped by firsttime cheekpieces.
Have 2pts ew at 16-1 generally.