Bearing in mind that Grand National winners have become notorious for never winning another race after their moment of Aintree glory, it seems a bit odd to be tipping Many Clouds (3.05) for a race as classy as the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. But conditions have come in his favour and it could just be that the best of Oliver Sherwood’s sturdy chaser has still to be seen.
Winning a National clearly takes a lot out of a horse, which is why the last Aintree hero to win another race afterwards was Bindaree, whose final outing was almost a decade ago. But the thing that Many Clouds has in common with him is that both were eight years old when winning the National. The other winners in between were all older and one was retired on the spot.
Many Clouds has already achieved something notable in becoming the first horse to win both the Hennessy and the National. Although he was well held in a fine renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he belonged in that company and has rather more class than the typical handicapper.
This race would be on the sharp side for him in most years but plenty of rain in recent days has turned the ground soft, so that some races at Wetherby on Friday appeared a proper test. That will not suit Menorah or Ballynagour but it brings Many Clouds right into the argument. Provided his exertions of last season have not left a mark, he should be staying on best of all.
I would rather take 13-2 about him than half those odds about Cue Card, whose most recent success was almost two years ago and who has had physical problems since.
Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
1.45 Ascot Voix D’Eau has the best form claims after his Ffos Las success but he is to be ridden for the first time by an inexperienced amateur, which is slightly off-putting, for all that the jockey in question has undoubted talent. A chance is taken on Anatol, a former French horse who has been given plenty of time by Paul Nicholls and is now earning very positive reviews at his Ditcheat yard. On his old form he could be nicely handicapped.
2.00 Wetherby The ground has come in favour of Closing Ceremony, from the in-form Emma Lavelle yard. He has a lot to find with Rock On Ruby but that rival is quite likely to need this reappearance run at the age of 10.
2.15 Ascot This could be the season in which Sgt Reckless makes good on the chasing potential we have all seen in him. His only defeat in three runs over fences so far was when struggling to cope with the pace of the Arkle but he has quite a bit of scope to be well handicapped and should be sharper for last month’s spin at Yarmouth.
2.30 Wetherby Ma Filleule is the class act here but even on rain-softened ground she may be tapped for toe on this return to hurdles at the minimum trip. Intense Tango, a Grade Two winner as a juvenile hurdler last winter, ran with some credit on the Flat this summer and could be the best option.
2.40 Down Royal This is all about Don Cossack and it will be a major surprise if, with the benefit of a recent run, he is not too good for these rivals at level weights. Rocky Creek is very useful on his day but has no pretensions to Gold Cup class, which is where Don Cossack belongs.
2.50 Ascot Stepping from novice company into a hot handicap is a serious test for Nabucco but this six-year-old was good enough to win Listed races on the Flat and may have a bit in hand on this initial jumps rating.
3.25 Ascot Pendra has yet to prove that he deserves his reputation but he is only seven and there should be more to come from Charlie Longsdon’s chaser this winter. His fifth in a Festival handicap when last seen was a smart piece of form in first-time cheekpieces, retained here, and it will be interesting to see what sort of tune Barry Geraghty can get out of him in these slightly less demanding circumstances.
