[current diary]

Updated: 2nd April 2011 - GG.com

April's Blooms

The mystique of the Grand National meeting remains as strong as ever and the first of three days thrilling action unfolds at the Merseyside course on Thursday, April 7. The day's main attraction is sure to be the Bowl Chase over 3m 1f, and if Gold Cup hero Long Run turns up here after his Cheltenham heroics, then he should add this lesser prize to his ever-expanding c.v.

The Mildmay fences can be unforgiving and Nicky Henderson's stable star will need to jump at his best to bring home the prize. On the same card the Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkandar is a confident choice to join that elite band of juvenile hurdlers capable of winning championship races at both the Cheltenham and Aintree spring festivals.

Zarkandar
© Racehorse Photos

The beautifully-bred half-brother to Zarkava showed too much speed for his rivals in the Triumph Hurdle and is fancied to land the 4-Y-O Anniversary Hurdle on Aintree's opening day. April 8 signals the start of Aintree's second day and the highlight has to be the Melling Chase where Master Minded will bid show he can punch his weight over 2m 4f after being found out over shorter in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Last year's Melling winner Albertas Run and a previous victor in Voy Por Ustedes provide stern opposition in a fascinating race. The daunting Aintree fences come into play for the Topham Chase while the staying hurdlers get their chance in the Sefton Hurdle where the Nicky Henderson-trained Mossley should go close.

The Midnight Club
© racing-images.co.uk

April 9 features the John Smith's Grand National and this year's renewal seems more open than ever. Last year's winner Don't Push It has been done no favours by the official handicapper and looks to have a job on to win back-to-back Nationals off a burdensome top weight and his owner JP McManus has purchased Bluesea Cracker, a horse right at the bottom of the weights, to increase his chances of winning the great race a second time and this plucky mare rates among the better outsiders.

The Irish boast a wonderful recent record in the world's most famous race and The Willie Mullins-trained The Midnight Club holds as good a chance as any while compatriots Oscar time and Backstage fortify a strong Irish challenge and it would be no surprise to see the big race slip back across the Irish Sea once more.

April is also the month when the turf Flat season finally snaps into shape after several false starts with the arrival of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket on April 13 and 14, and Classic clues will be found in the Nell Gwyn and Craven Stakes respectively on those aforementioned two dates. Indeed, Sir Michael Stoute's Havant is likely to put her 1,000 Guineas credentials on the line in the Nell Gwyn and recent gallop reports suggest she should go well.

Frankel
© Racehorse Photos

The search for Classic clues shifts to Newbury on April 16 when Frankel bids to bolster his already runaway reputation by winning the Greenham Stakes en route to a tilt at the first colts' Classic at Newmarket on April 30. Over at Ayr on the same day Chicago Grey attempts to follow-up his stylish success in the National Hunt Chase by taking the Scottish National for Irish trainer, Gordon Elliott.

At Sandown on April 23 Junior might well be a warm favourite for the Bet365 Gold Cup while the Paul Nicholls-trained Tchico Polos is the just the type to go well in the Celebration Chase.

The curtain finally falls on the mighty month of April when Frankel steps forward as a very warm favourite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 30. The month simply ends with the biggest of bangs.

Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips

Archive March 2011