Donn McClean

STRANGE that, from an initial entry of 20, just eight horses have stood their ground for this afternoon’s Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock.

A few had alternative engagements, Cause Of Causes runs at Naas tomorrow, for example, and Corrin Wood ran (disappointingly) at Kelso on Thursday. Even so, it is unusual that the field for a valuable staying handicap chase has been decimated to such an extent between the five-day stage and declaration day.

Two of the horses from last month’s Peter Marsh Chase, Cloudy Too and Gas Line Boy, have stood their ground. Cloudy Too won the Peter Marsh, but Gas Line Boy was travelling really well when he unseated his rider at the fifth last fence and, on 10lb better terms, at a similar price, Jim Best’s horse may be the value of the race.

Gas Line Boy departed too far out in the Peter Marsh for us to know for sure how he would have fared, how far behind Cloudy Too he would have finished or, indeed, if he would have finished behind him at all. However, there are reasons for believing that he would have finished mighty close at worst.

He was travelling really well at the time, he had got into a lovely even rhythm in front for Brian Hughes, and he was jumping well. Also, nothing got into the race from the rear, the two horses who were chasing Gas Line Boy at the time of his departure, Cloudy Too and Virak, finished first and second.

Gas Line Boy stays well, he has won over three and a half miles. So it is reasonable to assume that he would have finished among the protagonists at worst.

The Blueprint gelding would possibly have put up a career-best performance had he not come down, and that is significant. It was his first run for Jim Best, and it was his first run in a visor.

It is no surprise that the headgear is retained this afternoon. He could be well-handicapped on a mark of 140, he meets Cloudy Too on 10lb better terms after Sue Smith’s gelding’s 10lb hike, and he was spared a hard race in the Peter Marsh.

His chance today is not just down to one run, mind you. He was a talented staying handicap chaser when he was with Philip Hobbs, he achieved a career-high rating of 147, 7lb higher than the mark off which he races today.

Also, he goes well on soft ground, and he loves Haydock. He has run over fences at the Lancashire track four times, and his record reads 314U. The U was in the Peter Marsh Chase last time, and the 1 was over today’s course and distance.

The small field will help him and, if he can into a nice rhythm up front today, he could go close.

Mountainous is an opposable favourite. He was great last time in the Welsh National, and Kerry Lee is having a fantastic first season as a trainer, but the Welsh National was surely Mountainous’ primary objective. He is 10lb higher today than he was at Chepstow, and he loves Chepstow. On his only run at Haydock, in this race last year, he was well beaten. It would not be surprising if he drifted.

Rigadin De Beauchene is a danger, he was travelling well when he was brought down by a loose horse in the Classic Chase at Warwick last time, and he is another who goes well at Haydock. He won this race two years ago.

Broadway Buffalo is also interesting, it is easy to see him settling at the back for Katie Walsh and creeping. However, at similar prices, marginal preference is for Gas Line Boy.

ASCOT CHASE

Down at Ascot, Flemenstar looks over-priced at 8/1 in the Ascot Chase. Anthony and Stephen Curran’s horse may not be as good now as an 11-year-old as he was as a seven-year-old, but he really was top class as a seven-year-old, and his last two runs have suggested that he has retained plenty of ability.

He was probably a fortuitous winner of the Grade 1 Paddy Power iPhone App Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, in that, Un De Sceaux probably would have won had he not come down at the second last fence, but he still battled on well to get the better of Simply Ned, who is a good yardstick. They were 20 lengths clear of Hidden Cyclone in a race that was run in a good time.

On his latest run, Flemenstar ran Felix Yonger to two lengths in the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown. Felix Yonger is a talented horse and Flemenstar gave him a race. Again, the winning time was good, and Flemenstar left the impression that he would be better stepped up again from the minimum trip.

Today’s trip of an extended two and a half miles should be ideal for him. He was as good over two and a half as he was over two as a younger horse, and he beat Sir Des Champs in the John Durkan Chase over two and a half in December 2012. And he will have his favoured soft ground.

He was not a good traveller in his younger days, and that is a bit of a worry, as is the fact that he has never raced at Ascot, but, in a race in which the two horses at the top of the market are vulnerable, that is factored into odds of 8/1. With the dead eight runners, he is an each-way bet.

RECOMMENDED

GAS LINE BOY, 5/1 (generally) 1 point each-way,

FLEMENSTAR, 8/1 (generally) 1 point each-way,

*Last week’s Game Spirit Chase winner Top Gamble was another winner for this column, which is now showing a net profit of 18.5 points for 2016.