A FINE VINTAGE!

OWNER Trevor Hemmings is no stranger to National success and

VINTAGE CLOUDS (Ayr, 3.55) is the bet to carry his famous colours to success in today’s Coral Scottish National.

Heroics from Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds in the last dozen years have given the North West-based octogenarian considerable success on Merseyside in the world’s greatest horse race.

And that domination could switch to the west coast town this afternoon if Vintage Clouds can eliminate the errors which have seen him fall on two of his last three starts.

The selection was running fine races on both occasions when he came down late in the piece, especially when half a dozen lengths behind Bristol De Mai three starts ago, before departing three fences from home.

The majority of the seven-yearold’s best performances have been on flat, galloping, left-handed tracks, so it was encouraging that he ran so well at the Cheltenham Festival in the race won by Un Temps Pour Tout. Sandwiched between his two untimely departures was a fine effort behind Vieux Lion Rouge and Blaklion in the Haydock National Trial, a race in which Grand National fifth Gas Line Boy was fourth.

Vintage Clouds is yet to win over fences, but that has been no barrier to success in this type of race recently — just ask Rule The World’s connections — and Sue Smith’s gelding is taken to shed the maiden tag at the expense of Premier Bond, Arpege D’Alene and Vivaldi Collonges.

The last-named is rather speculative, but has bolted up on both starts at the track and will be fresher than most.

However, Vintage Clouds gains the vote and victory for the grey would hand rider Danny Cook a measure of redemption after he was forced to pull up Definitly Red, his fancied mount in the Aintree showpiece, after his saddle slipped.

The pathway to the Guineas continues at Newbury with two fascinating trials and, having been mightily impressed with

BARNEY ROY (Newbury, 3.05) on debut at Haydock, I’m hopeful he can improve on that display in the JLT Greenham Stakes.

The power displayed by the selection in the final furlong of his Haydock performance was very taking and today’s venue should play to his strengths because he looks a strong galloper with a turn of foot.

The fillies’ trial is a little more perplexing unless the decision is made to side with man of the moment John Gosden and the favourite Dabyah. She clearly has very strong claims given her placing in a French Group One race at the back end of her juvenile campaign.

But she is priced accordingly, and I would rather risk a little on

RAIN GODDESS (Newbury, 2.30), who has the benefit of a run already this term courtesy of an encouraging effort in a similar event at Leopardstown.