Stu Williams has a 9/1 fancy for Saturday's Unibet Grand National Trial at Haydock, a horse he expects to leave his current mark behind in time.
Recommended bet:
1pt win The Two Amigos in Grand National Trial at Haydock at 9/1
Female trainers have won five of the last ten renewals of Haydock’s Unibet Grand National Trial and indeed six of the last 12 if you include the training partnership of the late great Robert Alner and his wife Sally, who saddled Miko De Beauchene to land this pot just six weeks after taking the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Lucinda Russell sent out Silver By Nature to land back-to-back renewals in 2010 and 2011 and again tasted victory with Lie Forrit in 2015. The Kinross-based operator may saddle 2018 Randox Health Grand National hero One For Arthur on Saturday and his fifth-placed finish in December’s Becher Chase provides sufficient reason to believe that he could be a factor.
Venetia Williams has also won the Haydock feature twice and although the Grand National-winning trainer won’t have her own representative this year, the horse she sent out to victory in 2018, namely Yala Enki, will turn out for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
The master of Ditcheat is also responsible for ante-post favourite Truckers Lodge, who was only a length ahead of his new stablemate when placing second in this year's Welsh National over Christmas.
Yala Enki will have a 4lbs pull at the weights and earned a confidence-boosting success at Taunton last month. He would compete from an 11lbs higher mark than when successful in 2018 on Saturday but does love the mud and obviously handles Haydock, which is clearly advantageous.
The rapidly progressive Lord Du Mesnil is also proven on Merseyside having landed the Tommy Whittle Chase before bolting up over this course and distance from a 10lbs higher mark next time. This naturally represents a rise in class and he has already climbed 25lbs in the handicap following a hat-trick of victories. However, both of his Haydock successes were achieved with a deal of authority and it’s impossible to know where the limit of his ability lies.
Last year’s runner-up Ramses De Teille would also enter calculations if taking up his engagement. David Pipe’s grey is only 2lbs higher than he was 12 months ago and looked as good as ever when running out a 17 length winner of the Grade two River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster last month.
Clearly the eight-year-old handles decent ground but is arguably seen to best effect with plenty of cut and the forecast rain holds no fears to him.
Given Trevor Hemmings’ liking for both Haydock and indeed the Grand National itself, it is somewhat surprising that the prominent owner has only seen his famous white, green and yellow silks carried to success once in this race, when Seamus Durack steered The Last Fling to victory in 2000. Sue Smith was the winning trainer on that occasion and she may be able to double both her own personal tally, and that of the owner, with the Haydock-loving Vintage Clouds.
The gallant grey was 20 lengths behind the Lord Du Mesnil in the Tommy Whittle but bounced back to his very best when eased down to score by seven lengths in Peter Marsh here last month, improving his Haydock Park form-figures to 12222F32131.
He will undoubtedly be popular once more and he has often run well over extreme trips but is yet to win beyond three miles and one furlong and will compete from a career high mark following an 11lbs rise. It doesn't make life easy.
This is clearly a race with plenty of depth and many of the likely starters have form that ties in with each other. It goes without saying that the Haydock form of Vintage Clouds and Lord Du Mesnil warrants the upmost success.
However, I feel the Coral Welsh Grand National, in which Truckers Lodge, Yala Enki, The Two Amigos, Elegant Escape, Pobbles Bay and Virginia Chick all ran in, is the race to focus on.,
Of that sexet I'm particularly interested in THE TWO AMIGOS, who became embroiled in battle for the lead with Yala Enki and perhaps did too much too soon as a consequence.
Nicky Martin’s eight-year-old was sent pointing after failing to surpass a mark of 111 over hurdles but after securing five easy victories between the flags, connections decided that it was worth testing his mettle over regulation fences and they haven’t been disappointed.
The Midnight Legend gelding displayed his limitless stamina when scoring over three miles and six furlongs at Exeter (soft) in December 2018 and followed that up with a ready success in the Sussex National at Plumpton, where he carried top weight and won with any amount in hand.
The Two Amigos boasted a hugely progressive profile until falling and receiving a kick in this contest 12 months ago, which caused muscular problems that didn't fully come to light until a thorough MOT was conducted following a disappointing effort over hurdles in October. He is generally a very good jumper and the way in which he breezed around Chepstow was a clear indication that he is a happy horse once more.
I think he can get back on an upward curve here off an unchanged mark of 142, whereas many of his rivals may have already reached the ceiling of their ability having landed decent pots already.
Good jumpers often excel at Haydock Park and The Two Amigos regularly took lengths out of the field when travelling prominently at Chepstow. With his well-being confirmed and enthusiasm intact, I am confident that he can go close if regular jockey Matt Griffith's can keep a lid on his exuberance in the early to mid stages of the race.
It is also important to remember that this race is contested over two furlongs less than the Welsh Grand National and he only gave way very late in the piece in the Christmas feature after battling-on resolutely when past at three out.
The current heavy ground and rain filled weather forecast is of no concern as he seemingly revels in hock deep ground and connections looked all set to take on Native River in the Betfair Denman Chase on Saturday before electing to pull upstumps at the eleventh hour.
The Two Amigos was sent off a 7/1 chance last year, will receive plenty of weight from the likes of Elegant Escape, Yala Enki and Ballyoptic, while eight-year-olds have won three of the last four renewals of this race, which puts a tick in the box for those who like trends.
I expect him to prove better than his current rating and that process can start on Saturday.
Preview posted 1400 GMT on 11/02/2020
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