HAYDOCK SATURDAY
DAVID Pipe’s Vieux Lion Rouge showed in the Becher Chase that the Aintree fences hold no terrors for him and he will be back in April after grinding out a convincing victory in the Grade 3 Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock last Saturday.
Three and a half miles around here takes some getting and the front two had it to themselves in the straight as 7/2 favourite Blaklion harried Vieux Lion Rouge (8/1) all the way after taking him on soon after four out.
In a terrific set-to, the winner finally gained the upper hand, pulling away to score by over three lengths. It was 18 lengths back to Vintage Clouds.
“He ground it out really well,” Pipe said. “They went off very quick and in his younger years he wasn’t the best finisher. Now he’s a bit more laid back and saves a bit for the end. He’ll have another break now and then go straight to Aintree.”
Blaklion also produced a gutsy display and will be 3lb better off on the big day. Nigel Twiston-Davies is confident of turning the tables but Vieux Lion Rouge heads many lists with prices varying from 10/1 to 16/1. He finished seventh in the race last year.
Now 10-years-old and looking for his first win in Britain since the Aintree Hurdle in 2013, Paul Nicholls’ Zarkandar nonetheless showed that he is no back number and came through smoothly for Harry Cobden to take the Grade 2 Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle by nearly four lengths from stable-companion Aux Ptits Soins with Agrapart a shade disappointing in third.
Breathing operations were hit and miss not so very long ago but many Nicholls charges have benefited from the procedure and Zarkandar, 9/4, is clearly one of them. He goes for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham with bookmakers happy to offer 25/1.
HAT-TRICK
The Tom George-Adrian Heskin partnership has been one of the success stories of the season and the pair struck again when 11/4 shot The Worlds End pulled nicely clear of favourite No Hassle Hoff in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle.
He stayed the near three-mile trip very well and was bringing up the hat-trick with Heskin happy to send him on with three to jump. The Albert Bartlett itself is a possible target.
WINCANTON SATURDAY
AT Wincanton, Alan King’s Yanworth justified his 2/5 starting price in the Grade 2 Betway Kingwell Hurdle but had to be driven out by Barry Geraghty to beat Ch’tibello with Sceau Royal in third.
It was not an impressive effort but Wincanton is an easy two miles and Yanworth wants a stiffer test.
He was never going to be beaten after leading on the run-in; it is hard to find better than 4/1 about him for the Champion Hurdle.
“He needs a better gallop, which is why we wanted to go to Sandown, the cheekpieces worked and he was only 90% fit.” said the trainer as J.P. McManus’ seven-year-old came in.