JACOBS’ Crackers
THE WEEK AHEAD ALL eyes will be on the magnificent event that is the Randox Health Grand National on Saturday as 40 horses line up to take on the mighty Aintree fences over 4m 2f.
And in ONE FOR ARTHUR I have a set of ante-post slips as long as my arm hidden in my underwear drawer ready to cash in.
Trained by Lucinda Russell (below) he has looked like the perfect Liverpool horse with his precision jumping and devouring stride eating up the ground and seemingly getting stronger the further he travels.
His running on fifth behind Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher Chase over the big fences in November served notice that he would be a force in this year’s renewal.
But it was his follow-up run when absolutely bolting up in the Warwick Classic that really put him in the big race picture.
That day he was immaculate at his obstacles and in genuinely sticky ground he just galloped his rivals into the turf.
Aintree officials are careful to produce the famous turf with some juice in the ground, which should once again make it a real staying test. If we get a repeat of last year when there was an hour of rain before the race then so much the better and at a double-figure price I find it hard to see him being out of the frame granted some luck in running.
Of his rivals, former bet365 Gold Cup winners The Young Master and Just A Par are returning to form at the right time but, unlike the selection, they would be best served by a sound surface so a bigger danger could well be Rogue Angel. As we know from last year Mouse Morris knows how to lay a horse out for the big one and the 2016 Irish National winner is set to race off a mark only 8lb higher. SUNDAY SERVICE Richard Fahey is always to be respected at the opening turf meeting of the season at Doncaster and in BALLYMORE CASTLE (nap) he has a progressive sort to go to war with (1.45). He has been crying out for a big field test over this seven furlong trip and is a sporting nap.
LOUJAIN should go close to landing the maiden at 2.45, while ARCHIPELIGO is well handicapped in the 12 furlong amateur finale at 5.35. VALUE AT RISK had to miss Cheltenham with a small setback but compensation awaits for this well-handicapped sort at Ascot (3.05).