15:15 Haydock

Saturday 18 February 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 7m 25.53s

Blaklion²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: William Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 152

7/2

Currently a 25/1 chance for the Grand National itself for a trainer looking for his third success in the race. Sees out 3m very well and won last year's Grade One RSA Chase. Seems to go on any ground and has run creditably in defeat all three starts this season. 1lb drop won't do any harm and looks a major player.

Form: 2113-45

Wakanda¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 150

9/1

In great form last winter, running up a hat-trick in some valuable contests before the handicapper took his measure with a ceiling rating of 155. Showed signs of a return to form at Wetherby last time and yard loves a crack at this and won it in 2000 with The Last Fling. Chance very much respected at a price that's likely to represent some value.

Form: 11PP-75

Houblon Des Obeaux^p⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 149

14/1

3lb higher than his last win that came in the Grade Two Denman Chase last year (soft) and previously rated as high as 162 when runner-up to Coneygree in the same event in 2015. Ran well to be a distant third in the Welsh National in December from 4lb higher, handles forecast ground well (would prefer it softer) and this is his best opportunity for some time.

Form: 99841P-

Vicente^h⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

10/1

Last year's Scottish National winner (4m, good to soft), so forecast conditions and trip hold no fears. Now just 1lb higher than that Ayr success and capable of going close again after some moderate recent efforts.

Form: 31451-F

Vieux Lion Rouge^p⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 146

8/1

Seventh in last season's National at 66/1, but sent off favourite on his next start when back at Aintree in December, landing the Grade Three Becher Chase (3m2f, good to soft) from previous season's winner Highland Lodge and The Last Samurai. 25/1 for this year's Grand National and from just 4lb higher than that Becher win he can have a big say again.

Form: 11F267

Kruzhlinin^b²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 146

11/1

Beat Theo's Charm (runs earlier on the card) in a competitive hurdle over 2m7f here in November (heavy) before running well from today's mark in a Kempton handicap chase last time. Not ground dependent, though remains weighted up to the hilt.

Form: 215P-P3

Gas Line Boy^v⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Ian Williams| OR: 144

12/1

Stays well and won a C&D event (soft) in 2014 from a mark of 132. Enjoyed his first win since then at Kelso in December from 4lb higher, but handicapper looks as though he is now asking questions to which he does not have the answers.

Form: UP-2431

Tour Des Champs⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 142

25/1

Former Nigel Twiston-Davies inmate who won last year's Sussex National (3m5f, soft) from 15lb lower and caused a 50/1 upset on his first start for current connections at Cheltenham last time. Needs a career best to follow-up.

Form: P4414P-

Goodtoknow^b⁵⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jake Greenall| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 137

10/1

Sees out this trip well, having won over it at Taunton (good to soft) last March from a mark of 136, although all his other four career wins have been on heavy. Up 5lb for scoring at Hereford last time and represents a yard that has made a real name for itself in these types of contests. Interesting runner who turns up in good form.

Form: P11P-85

Aqalim^v⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Johns⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 137

40/1

Succumbed to Thistlecrack when that rival made his chasing debut at Chepstow in October and was having just his second start. However can't take that four length reverse literally and well beaten on his only completed start since. Not beyond the realms of possibility that he could go well if living up to his hurdles form, though would like to see more experience coming into this.

Form: 66-22P3

Vintage Clouds²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 136

5/1

Tremendously consistent CV, having only been out of the frame on three occasions from 14 starts, though surprisingly yet to win a chase in four attempts. Ran well for a long way before tipping up here in the Peter Marsh Chase last time and this extreme trip and a drop of 6lb give him the look of a potentially being well handicapped horse.

Form: 222P-22

Warrantor^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 135

16/1

Still 3lb higher than when recording his latest win, in December 2015 (3m, heavy) and so far from mark's like today's he has looked beatable.

Form: P2-2573

Cresswell Breeze^t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132

14/1

Ran up a hat-trick in quick succession over hurdles in February 2015 and all four career wins have been on soft or heavy, the most recent being her only one over fences 16 months ago under today's pilot. Enough defeats from similar marks on her CV to take her on in a hot race like this.

Form: 352529

Non-Runners

Doctor Harper⁵⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Blaklion (7/2), Vintage Clouds (5/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (8/1), Wakanda (9/1), Vicente (10/1), Goodtoknow (10/1), Kruzhlinin (11/1), Gas Line Boy (12/1), Cresswell Breeze (14/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (14/1), Doctor Harper (14/1), Warrantor (16/1), Tour Des Champs (25/1), Aqalim (40/1)

A fine renewal of a race whose roll of honour includes Grand National winners Freebooter, Sundew, Party Politics and the greatest of them all, Red Rum. This time around it could go to one who has designs on the crown they once held in VIEUX LION ROUGE. David Pipe's charge ran seventh in the big one last year when only seven-years-old and he looks better equipped this time. He goes well here and the forecast ground holds no fears; there still looks to be more to come from the Becher Chase winner. Blaklion will be very popular and is a real tough cookie who can go close, while both Gas Line Boy and Vintage Clouds can continue to improve and pick up some prize money. 1. Vieux Lion Rouge 2. Blaklion 3. Vintage Clouds