Kerry Lee’s outrageously good rookie season met a bump in the road last week when Bishops Road missed the cut by one for the Grand National and then unseated at the first fence in the Topham. But the Herefordshire trainer might still be able to get another big prize this season, as her Goodtoknow (4.10) looks a live runner in today’s Scottish Grand National.
Staying chases are the forte for this yard, already successful in the Welsh National, Haydock’s Grand National Trial and the Classic Chase at Warwick. Goodtoknow is just another of the stable’s runners who keep on chugging as others tire and, although he looked pretty moderate after winning only one of his first 14 starts over fences, a serious test of stamina has helped him land his last two and there may be better to come.
The eight-year-old, whose grand-dam was a half-sister to the 1992 Scottish National winner, Captain Dibble, hacked up on heavy going at Wetherby in February. He proved last time at Taunton that he does not need the ground like a bog when defying a stone-higher mark to beat Masters Hill. There was only a head in it at the line but something about Taunton’s layout brings horses together and prevented him from winning by as far as he might have done at a more galloping track.
Better is needed here and this will be a serious test for the jockey, Jake Greenall, as well as Goodtoknow. But they should be contenders and it is a surprise to be offered 33-1.
Cause Of Causes has been raised 13lb for his Festival win, so it might be that Heathfield gives JP McManus his best chance here. Alvarado looks well treated, having been fourth in last year’s Grand National from a 5lb higher mark.
2.10 Chelmsford The winner of valuable handicaps at Ascot and Goodwood last summer, Dartmouth was a most progressive three-year-old and is bred to keep getting better. He was narrowly beaten for a Listed prize on his all-weather debut when last seen and is preferred to the relatively exposed Battalion.
2.25 Ayr Beaten only by Black Hercules at the Festival, Bristol De Mai has put together an excellent first season over fences and appears to be holding his form better than most of these rivals. Henryville probably has more to offer and may be the main threat.
2.40 Chelmsford As the winner of the Lowther, Besharah is the standout here. She did not seem to handle Newmarket all that well when pipped in a Group One at the end of last season.
3.00 Ayr It is good to see David Mullins back on the tricky Ivan Grozny after they sailed to victory at Aintree last week. A 5lb penalty will not stop them if they continue to get along as smoothly as they did on Merseyside.
3.15 Chelmsford With only four runners the Greenham, more than any of the transferred races, could become very tactical but Log Out Island could be the way to go. There were highs and lows to his juvenile year but a sound surface seemed to help and he might be well suited by this brand of all-weather.
3.35 Ayr Solar Impulse seemed to relish the drying ground when scoring at the Festival but this much wetter surface tilts preference towards Always On The Run, a progressive youngster from the in-form Tom George yard.
3.50 Chelmsford Godolphin’s Power Game, a winner here in January as well as at two Kempton races last year, has lots more to give and should prove ahead of his rating.
