Sara Bradstock’s nine-year-old set to grab victory in the feature over the Grand National fences on Merseyside while Il Etait Temps, Pleasington, Captain Hugo, Top Guy, Richmond Lake, Treasure Planet, Rambo T, Tanganyika, Lulamba, Just A Rose, Kikijo, Aworkinprogress and Sober Glory may also be Saturday scorers
Sara Bradstock’s nine-year-old set to grab victory in the feature over the Grand National fences on Merseyside while Il Etait Temps, Pleasington, Captain Hugo, Top Guy, Richmond Lake, Treasure Planet, Rambo T, Tanganyika, Lulamba, Just A Rose, Kikijo, Aworkinprogress and Sober Glory may also be Saturday scorers
MR VANGO can secure victory in the Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.40pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon. While IL ETAIT TEMPS can win the Grade One Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (GBB Race) (3pm) at Sandown.
Sara Bradstock’s giant chaser can take another leap to a crack at the Randox Grand National with victory over the big Aintree obstacles in the 3m2f feature on Merseyside. Having been third in the National Hunt Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2024 and pulled up in the Scottish Grand National the following month, the nine-year-old was a revelation last season. He made a winning return to action on this day 12 months ago, landing the 3m4½f London National Handicap Chase at Sandown, racing prominently and relishing both the marathon trip and soft conditions.
He was also impressive when grabbing another victory in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase, dropped back in trip to 3m1½f, at Haydock Park in January. And having looked to have a chance of running a big race at Aintree in April, he missed the cut for the now 34-strong contest having not been handed enough weight by the handicapper to get in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
He gained some compensation when winning the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter ahead of Venetia Williams’ Tanganyika in March, making light of having to carry top weight of 12st and leading for almost all the marathon 4m2f and scoring in less testing conditions than usual.
Mr Vango again saddles top weight but his big frame makes him more able to carry it. And although he prefers softer conditions, he showed at Uttoxeter he doesn’t necessarily need them to triumph. He should get some ease with rain in the build-up to the race and looks tailor-made for the big Aintree obstacles. Mr Vango could again lead them a merry dance and triumph and set up a potential crack at sponsors William Hill’s £500,000 bonus if he can also land the big one on April 11 in the new year.
With the Dan Skelton stable mopping up the big prizes recently, mare Galia Des Liteaux – seventh in the 2024 Grand National – may be the main challenger to Mr Vango. While Cheshire trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s duo White Rhino and Gaboriot – who was second over the big fences in last month’s Grand Sefton Chase – and Irish raider Bioluminescence, from the Gavin Cromwell stable, can also go well.
At Sandown the Betfair Tingle Creek (3pm) looks a fascinating contest with Nicky Henderson’s dual winner Jonbon bidding for a hat-trick, his Cheltenham Schloer Chase conqueror L’Eau Du Sud, from the Skelton stable, and Willie Mullins’ Grand National Festival and Punchestown hero Il Etait Temps making it a quality renewal. Preference is just for favourite Il Etait Temps ahead of L’Eau Du Sud – but it should be a cracker.
Back at Aintree Paul Nicholls’ TREASURE PLANET can make it two wins from three starts for the Ditcheat handler, backing up a victory at Ludlow last month with another in the Listed William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Wirral Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.05pm).
Olly Murphy’s PLEASINGTON – a close third to Meetmebythesea on his chasing debut at Wetherby last month – can land a first success over the bigger obstacles in the William Hill Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.58pm).
Merseyside-born, Cheshire-based trainer Donald McCain Jnr’s RICHMOND LAKE can win the William Hill Racing Winnings Boost Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.30pm) again. In the colours of the late triple Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings, the nine-year-old won this race two years ago off a 7lb higher handicap mark. He hasn’t won since then but has dropped down to an attractive mark and can build on a recent third on his seasonal reappearance at Bangor last month and go a couple of places better.
Olly Murphy can land another winner with recent Chepstow scorer RAMBO T in the finale, the New William Hill Racing Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.15pm).
Philip Hobbs and Jonson White’s CAPTAIN HUGO should bring up a hat-trick of successes in the three-runner opener, the Daily Bet Boosts At William Hill Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (11.48am).
The Skelton stable remains in top form and TOP GUY can give them another winner in the William Hill Each Way Extra Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.24pm).
Back at Sandown Nicky Henderson’s smart LULAMBA can make it two from two over fences in the Grade One Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.50pm) and continue on the road to the Cheltenham Festival and a potential clash with Willie Mullins’ Kopek Des Bordes in the Arkle Chase.
Another Hobbs and White-trained in-form hurdler KIKIJO can back up his victory at Cheltenham last month with another in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.20pm).
Dan Skelton’s course and distance winner KNICKERBOCKERGLORY can land another success at the Esher venue in the Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm).
Venetia Williams’ stable is yet to really fire but TANGANYIKA – runner-up to Mr Vango in the Midlands National last season and fifth on his seasonal return at Cheltenham last month – may provide her with a welcome winner in the Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm).
The unbeaten SOBER GLORY – also from the Hobbs and White yard – can grab a second win over obstacles and fifth in a row – in the Listed Betfair Exchange Claremont Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.10pm).
Paul Nicholls’ JUST A ROSE – who has had wind surgery over the summer since being pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival in March – can resume her progress with victory in the Betfair Supports Racing With Pride Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (12.43pm).
At Chepstow Nick Gifford’s AWORKINPROGRESS looks set to book his ticket to the real thing with a seventh straight success in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.36pm).
Others who can win in Wales are Rebecca Curtis’ WILLMOUNT in the Dagem Power Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.11pm); stablemate BEN SOLO in the Protectorcomms Sirens And Stallions Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.29pm); and KAYF DANCER – from the Hobbs and White stable – in the Happy 21st Birthday Lori Garrett Handicap Hurdle (1.04pm).
At Wetherby Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s VISUAL IMPACT can win the Book William Hill Christmas Meeting Online Handicap Chase (GBB) (1.25pm); and the McCain-trained MR MOJO RISIN may take the opener in the Racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (11.10am).
Wright Ones
AINTREE
11.48am Captain Hugo 12.24pm Top Guy 12.58pm Pleasington 1.30pm Richmond Lake 2.05pm Treasure Planet 2.40pm Mr Vango (NAP) 3.15pm Rambo T
SANDOWN
12.10pm Sober Glory 12.43pm Just A Rose 1.20pm Kikijo 1.50pm Lulamba 2.25pm Knickerbockerglory 3pm Il Etait Temps 3.35pm Tanganyika
CHEPSTOW
11.55am Ignore The Door 12.29pm Ben Solo 1.04pm Kayf Dancer 1.36pm Aworkinprogress 2.11pm Willmount 2.46pm Grand Vendetta 3.21pm Presley
WETHERBY
11.10am Mr Mojo Risin 11.40am The Jad Factor 12.17pm Kilbarry Hill 12.50pm Chase A Fortune 1.25pm Visual Impact 1.57pm Mac’s Max
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.30pm Straight A 5pm Galileo Charm 5.30pm Koala Rose 6pm R P Mcmurphy 6.30pm Hitched 7pm Billy Bathgate 7.30pm So Alex 8pm Under Curfew 8.30pm Call Glory
NAVAN
11.33am Ritz Plan 12.03pm Saint Baco 12.35pm Copacabana 1.10pm Kovanis 1.42pm Yeats Star 2.17pm Inthepocket 2.52pm Kopeck De Mee 3.27pm With Nolimit
SUNDAY’S NAP: Matata (Kelso 2.37pm)
