Today’s best bets, by Chris Corrigan
Evan Williams, the Vale of Glamorgan trainer, achieved the astonishing feat of saddling horses to finish placed in five consecutive Grand Nationals between 2009 and 2013. The names of the two horses involved in that remarkable achievement are State Of Play and Cappa Bleu. Most people only dream of winning the Aintree spectacular, but Williams may just be getting that glint of hope in his eye of actually winning the big one with Cesar Collonges (1.00), who runs at Carlisle and is on offer at 11-4.
Owned by the Rucker family, whose blue colours were also sported by State Of Play and Cappa Bleu, Cesar Collonges cost £200,000 last year after he won an Irish point to point. He was foaled by a half-sister to the dam of Neptune Collonges, who won the 2012 Grand National for Paul Nicholls.
All of which does not mean the five year old will win at Carlisle over a distance sure to be short of what he will need in time, but he looks to have an excellent chance, especially having shown promise at this track in mid-October and with the Williams yard boasting a high ratio of winners in the last 10 days.
There was money on Sunday night for a Kevin Ryan-trained rival, Canny Style, who has won five times on the Flat. It will be fascinating to see who emerges best of these two in this novice hurdle clash between a fresh recruit from the level and an expensive jumping-bred purchase.
Gary Moore is a trainer who hit a high winning strike-rate a fortnight ago and perhaps he can resume that successful run with Bad Boy Du Pouldu (1.20), who looks primed to perform well at odds of 12-1 at Kempton.
Tips for all Monday races, by Chris Corrigan
Kempton
12.50 Mr Whipped 1.20 Bad Boy Du Pouldu (nb) 1.50 Enniscoffey Oscar 2.25 Give Me A Copper 2.55 Bags Groove 3.30 Whisper 4.00 Templier
Carlisle
1.00 Cesar Collonges (nap) 1.30 Brio Conte 2.05 Idder 2.35 King’s Odyssey 3.10 Calivigny 3.40 Kateson
Southwell
12.40 Line Of Beauty 1.10 Hurricane Hollow 1.40 Ticks The Boxes 2.15 Straight Away 2.45 Know The Truth 3.20 The Big Lad 3.50 Novabridge
