IT was nine years ago yesterday that Synchronised won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and it is 11 years ago today that he won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
It is improbable that there is another Synchronised lurking in today’s Marston’s 61 Deep Midlands Grand National field, but Time To Get Up represents the Jonjo O’Neill/JP McManus team for whom Synchronised excelled, and he is a worthy favourite.
Time To Get Up finished second to Monkfish in a maiden hurdle over nearly three miles at Fairyhouse in December last season when he was with Joseph O’Brien, when he had good horses Braeside, Atlantic Shore and Ballyshannon Rose behind him.
He didn’t race again after that until he made his debut for Jonjo O’Neill in a novices’ handicap chase at Aintree over two and a half miles last November, but he shaped encouragingly there in finishing third behind Canelo.
Well beaten next time in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Wetherby on St Stephen’s Day, he stepped up on that when he stepped up in trip to three miles last time and easily landed a handicap chase at Wincanton.
The handicapper raised him by 8lb for that win, but he could be progressive enough to be able to cope with his new mark of 138. But he is short and, while he is bred for stamina, four and a quarter miles at Uttoxeter on soft ground is an extreme test.
Captain Drake undertook the test last year, and he almost prevailed. He moved up nicely on the run down the back straight final time that day, and he moved into third place behind Joe Farrell and Truckers Lodge at the top of the home straight.
He came under pressure at that point, but he stayed on well for pressure. He was well beaten in the end by Truckers Lodge, but he did well to hold Joe Farrell’s renewed effort for the runner-up spot after making a bad mistake at the final fence.
Harry Fry’s horse is only 2lb higher in the handicap today than he was last year and, a year older now, an eight-year-old, he should be stronger and better equipped for this extreme test than he was last year as a seven-year-old. Only one horse aged younger than eight has won the race since Synchronised won it as a seven-year-old in 2010.
We know that Captain Drake goes well at Uttoxeter. As well as that big run in the Midlands National last year, he won his maiden hurdle there, and he won a handicap hurdle there on his debut this season. He ran well last time to finish fourth in the Welsh Grand National off today’s mark of 140, and Bryan Carver is a good claiming rider in a race in which claiming riders have prevailed five times in the last 10 years.
It is probable that this race has been Captain Drake’s target for a while. An eight-year-old who has raced just eight times over fences, he still has scope for progression as a staying chaser, and he could out-run his odds today by a fair way.
Screaming Colours is very interesting, this extreme test could suit him well, and Truckers Lodge could be a player again, even though he is 12lb higher than he was last year.
Handicap selection
Earlier in the day, Saint Dalina could be the answer to the three-mile handicap hurdle. Charlie Longsdon’s mare did well to finish third in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Ascot last time.
Weak in the market beforehand, she was held up early on in her first-time cheekpieces, and she stayed on well to take third place behind J’Ai Froid and Fawsley Spirit. The first two home were prominent from flagfall, and Saint Dalina did well to get up and challenge them on the run-in.
She goes well at Uttoxeter, she stayed on well to win a handicap hurdle on soft ground there over today’s course and distance in December.
She has been raised just 2lb for her Ascot run to a mark of 124, and she has a real chance off that mark.
Recommended:
Saint Dalina, 1.50 Uttoxeter, 13/2 (generally), 1 point win
Captain Drake, 3.35 Uttoxeter, 11/1 (generally), 1 point each-way,
Winner
Donn’s two recommended bets last Saturday both won, Langer Dan (advised at 9/2) in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup and Farinet (advised at 9/1) in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Novices’ Handicap Chase.