Grand National News |
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Dynaste and The New One On Target for Aintree Assignments Friday 28th March 2014 |
The dust may only just be settling after the Cheltenham Festival but already attention in the racing world turns towards the upcoming Grand National Meeting at Aintree. A number of horses who impressed during the Cheltenham Festival will be heading to Merseyside next week with connections looking for either more top level success or to bounce back following disappointment at Prestbury Park. Three weeks is just enough time between the two Festivals’ this season to ensure that a number of horses will be appearing at both meetings as the National Hunt calendar draws to a close and the big money race finishing for another season.
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One trainer who was quick to nominate Aintree for one of his Cheltenham Festival heroes was David Pipe who has said that Dynaste is on target for the Betfred Bowl. The popular grey stormed to a famous victory in the Ryanair Chase and a step up back in trip to three miles is now firmly on the agenda. The seven-year-old won the Mildmay Novices Chase over three miles one furlong at the Grand National fixture last season and based on his win at Cheltenham, there is every chance he can follow up again in the Bowl on Thursday, 3rd April.
One horse who could take on Dynaste at in that renewal is Silviniaco Conti who has reportedly come out of his Gold Cup efforts in good order. The King George Chase winner was travelling best of all until the last fence in the big race at Cheltenham only to fade in to fifth place for Paul Nicholls. The Ditcheat handler has reported the horse to be in good form and the feeling is that the slightly easier three miles on offer at Aintree is likely to suit the eight-year-old, which would set up an thrilling battle between two of sport’s leading jumpers.
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There is no doubt that The New One was one of the unluckiest losers at Cheltenham but connections will be looking for retribution when they send the horse to Aintree next week. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained in-mate stormed up the hill to finish third in the Champion Hurdle after being badly hampered by the fall of Our Conor half way through the race. The horse showed a remarkable turn of foot to chase home Jezki and My Tent Or Yours and most believe that he would have won the Champion Hurdle had it not been for his trouble in-running. The New One now looks likely to step back up in trip for the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting which is a race he finished second in last year when still a novice.
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The New One is a definite to run in the Aintree Hurdle all being well but it is less clear who will take him on. There has been some suggestion that we could see Annie Power head to Liverpool after her second place finish in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham. The Willie Mullins trained mare was a hot favourite for the stayers hurdle at Prestbury Park but she was unable to live with More Of That up the famous hill over three miles. A drop back in trip to the Aintree Hurdle has been suggested for Annie Power and a clash with The New One would be a mouth-watering prospect if they both turn up.
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As for the Grand National itself, there are a number of runners engaged for the big race that tasted varying degrees of success at Prestbury Park last time out. Chief among those is Balthazar King who won the Cross Country Chase for the second time at Cheltenham and now looks set to take his chance in the National. The Philip Hobbs trained ten-year-old has been in the form of his life this season with four wins on the bounce and many believe that he is a genuine threat at Aintree if the ground comes up decent and he currently rates a 25/1 shot. One of the horses he beat at Cheltenham was Big Shu, who came third in the Cross Country race for trainer Peter Maher. The nine-year-old won the Cross Country at the Festival in 2013, looked to be in good nick when he finished third in defence of his title and as a proven stayer, Big Shu is likely to attract plenty of each-way money in the ante-post National market.
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