Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hawke will be Al and hearty
SWOOP like a Hawke on the Vertem Eider Chase (2.45).
It’s going to take some depths of stamina to stay 4m1f on heavy ground to land Newcastle’s Grand National trial.
It’s hardly a surprise that lighter weights have been favoured when this staying contest has been run on testing going. Only one of the last eight winners carried more than 11st and winning form over distances approaching three miles also seems crucial. The trends are:
Won over at least 2m7f Finished in the first two in recent starts
Lighter weights an advantage when it’s testing
is a promising stayer towards the bottom of the weights.
He has thrived since stepping up to around three miles and his most recent win at Chepstow came on ground that was barely raceable. He should relish today’s huge test. He wore blinkers for the first time at Chepstow, but there’s no doubting his attitude and two of the last 10 winners of this race sported headgear.
Alminar’s trainer Nigel Hawke (below) knows all about staying chasers.
He rode Seagram to Grand National glory 29 years ago and he has won the Welsh National as a trainer.
Tiger Roll also started his career with Hawke. Have 1pt each-way on Alminar at 12-1 with Bet365.
David Pipe trains just up the road from Devonbased Hawke.
He won this race with subsequent Aintree hero Comply Or Die 12 years ago and looks to have a good contender with
He hit the target when landing the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. At 13-2, it’s worth having 1pt to win on David Noonan’s mount.