10-1 shot can soar to success over the Grand National fences – Jason Heavey’s Saturday suggestions
The Daily Star Chief Tipster continued his great form with 16-1 winner Stratton Oakmont on Friday at Exeter – and fancies one over the Aintree fences on Saturday
THE Grand National fences are not as scary as they used to be but they still get the juices flowing when the wraps come off them.
Seventeen go to post for the William Hill Grand Sefton Chase on Saturday over the big obstacles and it is a terrific betting heat.
I’m with GABORIOT who was third in the race 12 months ago and will race off a 3lb lower handicap mark.
The ride of Robbie Dunne, he goes well fresh and looks to have a solid chance at around the 10-1 mark.
He will have to reverse form with King Turgeon who won last year but Gaboriot is far better off at the weights.
Meanwhile, trainer Ralph Beckett can lord it over his rivals at Doncaster as the turf Flat season comes to a soggy close.
Mudlarks will be in their element and none more so than the Newmarket handler’s LORD MELBOURNE (3.45, trb).
Twelve months ago he was a decisive winner of the Virgin Bet November Handicap and he is fancied to repeat the feat.
The five-year-old has only run once since when skipping clear to win impressively at Epsom in September.
He is 13lb higher in the weights this year, so it will be much tougher, but the talented Jack Dace takes off 5lb and Lord Melbourne looked like he had actually improved when scoring at Epsom.
Stablemate Master Vintner , Stressfree and Atherstone Warrior are all formidable rivals who will like the conditions.
SPYCATCHER (1.25) will also love the ground and gets the vote in the Listed Virgin Bet Wentworth Stakes.
He won on William Hill Lincoln day at the track and has held his form well all season, winning a Group Three race at Chantilly 12 days ago.
The Listed Gillies Fillies’ Stakes is wide open and LOUGHVILLE (3.10) is worth a roll of the dice at a generous looking 16-1.
She will handle the ground, won well last time out at Nottingham and was only six lengths behind Estrange in this race last year.
In between the televised races FINE INTERVIEW (2.35, nap) is napped to win a super competitive sprint handicap over six furlongs.
The imposing grey was a ready winner over the track and trip 15 days ago and looks best of a talented Wathnan Racing trio.
There are 11 live races on ITV4 in total, including five at Wincanton, which is plagued by small fields due to the lack of rain and subsequent quick ground.
BOURBALI (1.10) and BETHPAGE (1.45) will not mind the decent surface, while Paul Nicholls usually makes hay on this card and can score a notable Grade Two double with BLUEKING D’OROU X (2.23) in the Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase and RUBAUD (2.55) in the BetMGM Elite Hurdle. Both will be a fairly short price but should reward favourite backers.
ART OF DIPLOMACY (3.30) has won five races since the summer and has a great chance of winning the 64th Badger Beers Handicap Chase under James Bowen.
At Aintree James’ brother Sean can score on the progressive CHASING FIRE (12.55) for the in-form yard of Olly Murphy while HIGHLANDS LEGACY (2.05) made a winning chasing debut and can follow up in the capable hands of Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
JASON HEAVEY’S SATURDAY TIPS
WINCANTON
12.35 Fasol
1.10 Bourbali
1.45 Bethpage
2.23 Blueking d’Oroux
2.55 Rubaud
3.30 Art Of Diplomacy
4.05 Baile An Or
DONCASTER
11.37 Terries Royale
12.15 Mollstar
12.50 I’ll Be Back
1.25 Spycatcher
2.00 The Resdev Scholar
2.35 Fine Interview (Nap)
3.10 Loughville
3.45 Lord Melbourne (trb)
AINTREE
12.20 On Deadly Ground
12.55 Chasing Fire
1.30 Andy Amo
2.05 Highlands Legacy
2.40 Gaboriot
3.15 Don’t Mind If I Do
3.50 Garrincha
WOLVERHAMPTON
2.18 Exotic Baby
2.50 Earnest Belief
3.25 Zighy
4.00 Clearpoint (nb)
4.30 Qarreeb
5.00 Havana Sky
5.30 Al Muqdad
6.00 Beaumadier
6.30 City Of Poets
KELSO
10.45 Country Code
11.14 Treaty Boy
11.42 Cage Rattler
12.10 Rickety Gate
12.42 Rocheval
1.17 Dom Of Mary
1.52 Boolamore Classic
