The gamble on Silviniaco Conti for this year's Crabbies Grand National continues with Paul Nicholls' dual King George hero backed into 12/1 (From 25s) for Aintree success on the back of his exceptional display in the Ascot Chase on Saturday. The 10-y-o would receive 2lb from last year's winner Many Clouds and would boast obvious claims if staying the marathon four and a half miles trip.
Nicholls saddles The Brock Again (3.05) in this afternoon's 2m Handicap Chase at Taunton, who is a confident selection to give weight and a beating to his five rivals under Sam Twiston-Davies. The 8-y-o made a pleasing debut over the larger obstacles last time out at Wincanton, running into a well backed favourite for the Venetia Williams yard, and can go one better at the second time of asking over fences.
The pair can complete doubles with Antartica de Thaix (3.40) in the Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles. The selection made a pleasing debut for the yard earlier in the campaign, chasing home Rolling Dylan in a strong Wincanton bumper and was well-backed prior to unseating on her debut over timber at the track on Boxing Day. The daughter of Dom Alco is bred to relish the forecast testing conditions and must go close to shedding the maiden tag in Britain at the third attempt.
Nicholls opts to give the leg up to 7lb conditional jockey Harry Cobden in a bid to ease the task faced by Qualando in the feature handicap hurdle over an extended two miles but, with last year's Fred Winter winner appreciating a sounder surface, preference on this occasion lies with Dan Skelton's Cobra De Mai (4.10) under Bridget Andrews. The selection built on the promise shown in juvenile hurdles earlier in the campaign, scoring readily last time out against his elders at Uttoxeter, and with his 10lb weight-for-age allowance and Andrews' excellent value for her 5lb claim, he is a confident selection to follow-up this afternoon.
Evan Williams' Mac Gregory (5.20) must give 7lb to the field in the concluding bumper but his penalty for an impressive last time out success at Ludlow is offset by Lewis Gordon's 7lb claim and he must go close in a bid to maintain his unbeaten record under rules in the finale.
Dan Skelton's Born Survivor (3.20) looks the most talented runner on the card at Wetherby and should make light work of his rivals in the Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles. The race has an impressive roll of honour, won last year by Warren Greaterex's One Track Mind, and Skelton's Irish point-to-point graduate looks to boast a similarly bright future, with a win setting-up a likely tilt at the Aintree festival.
Big Jim (3.50) is yet another that carries with them the burden of top weight and must concede upwards of 9lb to his five rivals but there was a lot to like about his heavy ground defeat of Morning Reggie last time out at Warwick and he must go close in his bid to follow-up from a 9lb higher mark. That form of that success has already taken a boost with
All Together winning subsequently and he should relish the forecast testing conditions more than most to score under regular partner Kielan Woods.
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