Carlingford Lough was taken out of the Grand National by BetVictor yesterday as connections announced the Gold Cup fourth would miss the race in favour of Punchestown and a rematch with Don Cossack.
Last year's runner up Saint Are is the latest mover and is now 16/1 from 20s (6 places) at BetVictor to go one better than last year.
Good ground is the order of the day at Wincanton and Via Volupta (2.10) can finally get her head in front having finished runner up in all three starts over hurdles including on soft ground behind Yes I Did last time. Today's surface will suit and I would be disappointed if she couldn't beat Awesome Rosie in receipt of 7lbs.
Batavir (2.40) was given too much to do at Ffos Las in an unsatisfactory race last time and he returns to the same C&D of his last success off the same mark; Michael Heard takes off a valuable 5lbs and he must go close for the inform David Pipe yard although he has never won on ground this quick.
I was disappointed with the finishing effort of The Brock Again last time and he is overlooked in the 2m 3f handicap chase where a market move for Casino Markets would be worth noting; he shaped with promise at Kempton following a long absence and this step up in trip will suit.
That said Ballinvarrig (3.10) has surely found an excellent opportunity and if he takes to the first time blinkers he must go close; this is the fastest ground he has encountered but he has been given a chance by the handicapper and a return to a right-hand track will suit having finished runner up at Ayr last time. His three career wins have been in 11, 7 and 8 runner fields on a right-hand track and today's conditions look ideal.
At Warwick Glendermot (2.30) jumped well on his chase debut and the hope is that Danny Cook holds onto him a bit longer than over C&D last time when he seemed to think he had done enough when hitting the front. I always feel Emma Lavelle's horses thrive on better ground and Mrs Robin is interesting in a first time visor with Aidan Coleman in the plate.
Instant Karma has been raised 12lbs for his win at Fakenham on good ground and this flat performer must go close if the ground is genuinely good but this is tougher and the vote in a cracking race goes to Robin Of Locksley (3.00) who drops back in trip having ran well in a better handicap at Sandown last time for Dan Skelton. Clayton will ensure there is plenty of pace in the race and he will find this easier than the Imperial Cup in which he went well for a long way at Sandown last time.
The first division of the Bumper is a cracker with a number of the top yards represented including Alan King whose 4-year-old Azzerti (5.00) looked a horse of some potential when fourth at Kempton on debut and is likely to be ridden more prominently with that experience behind him.
At Lingfield the filly Stormy Clouds (2.20) can go one better than on debut when no match for the impressive Chupalla from the Mark Johnston yard who are represented by the well-bred Rusumaat. The yard can do little wrong at present but the filly's experience could be the deciding factor in what should be an informative contest.
Aleko (4.50) failed to go on last season after making a winning debut for Johnston but first time out might be the time to catch him and the booking of James Doyle suggests connections expect a big run on today's polytrack surface.
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