WILL POWER
Former Welsh National hero will love tough stamina test
WHERE there’s there’s a way.
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Will,
The Virgin Bet Grand National Trial is sure to be an extreme test of stamina. That’s good news for IWILLDOIT (3.15) as he will love this 3m4f distance on heavy ground.
He landed the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow a couple of years ago and he went on to win Warwick’s Classic Chase last season.
Both those victories came on testing ground and he coped better than most with the conditions when third behind easy winner Nassalam in this season’s Welsh National. That was a cracking effort under top weight in a race that usually favours those lower down the handicap.
His Lingfield third behind Gold Cup contender L’homme Presse last month was another solid run considering the 2m6f trip was always going to be on the short side. Have 2pts win at 15-2.
Later on the same card, ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE (3.50) has the potential to keep on improving. She was successful on her first try beyond 3m when winning at Plumpton three weeks ago.
The way she travelled before putting the race to bed in decent style suggests she can handle this step up in grade.
Her earlier fifth behind useful Nurse Susan over 2m4f at Cheltenham just before Christmas was another decent effort, but it underlined that stamina is her strong point.
Joe Tizzard’s mare has a decent pedigree and, at just six years old, she should be able to keep progressing.
Have 1pt each-way at 8-1.A few bookies are paying out on four places.
The Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase has attracted a small field but the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Handicap Hurdle is much heavier on numbers.
SANTOS BLUE (2.25) landed a hat-trick of wins last season and he kicked off this term by chasing home Stayers’ Hurdle fancy Crambo at Aintree.
His young amateur jockey Ben Sutton lost his stirrup irons after jumping the second-last hurdle at Wetherby last month but he still had more than enough in hand to win nicely.
A decent pace over this 2m3f distance should be ideal for Dan Skelton’s hope. Have 1pt each-way at 16-1. Sky Bet is paying out on six places.