Channel 4 Racing: Saint Are travelling light in the Becher Chase
Published:
Saint Are returns to a happy hunting ground when he lines up in front of the Channel 4 Racing cameras for Saturday’s Aintree feature, the Becher Chase.
A recent addition to Tom George’s yard, the multiple course victor forms part of news.ladbrokes’ three-pronged assault on the Merseyside track’s TV offerings.
NAP: Ma Filleule to win 2:40 Aintree @ 2/1
Nicky Henderson’s mare renews hostilities with Holywell after going down to the Cheltenham Gold Cup contender by under 2l at the 2014 festival.
Both went on to score at Aintree the following month and they meet on identical terms to when clashing at Prestbury Park.
However, Jonjo O’Neill’s chaser invariably comes to his best after the turn of the year and is still to win a race before the end of January in seven attempts.
With 7lbs less on her back despite there being just 1lb between them on ratings these days, the Seven Barrows starlet can take advantage.
NB: Saint Are to win 1:30 Aintree @ 12/1
A paid up Aintree aficionado, the eight-year-old has two wins and a second to his name from six spins round Aintree, also completing the Grand National last April to show a liking for the fences he’ll face in this assignment.
He was dropped 2lbs for a very encouraging third behind Sam Winner at Cheltenham on his seasonal bow last time (first run for his new yard) just getting tired in the final furlongs of a 3m3f soft ground slog.
If that hinted at him rediscovering his form he’s almost farcically well treated off 127 that’s some 10lbs lower than his mark when winning a course handicap in 2012 – the only slight worry is the soft ground.
Lively Longshot: Too Cool To Fool each-way 3:15 Aintree @ 50/1
Jim Goldie’s 11-year-old races from a scarcely creditable 2st4lbs out of the handicap, yet there’s something intriguing about a beast it would be no surprise to see start a fair bit longer still than 50/1, which would constitute an interesting proposition.
Unbeaten over the Grand Sefton trip, soft ground is his thing having won three out of four outings on such a deck connections evidently suspect it’s worth him taking his chance.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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