DonaldMcCain

Aintree

14.00 3m Hurdle - Across The Bay

He's probably too high in the weights to win one of the handicaps and the owners were happy to come here. He's obviously up against it with Big Buck's in the field and if he could just nick some prize money that would be a bonus.


14.30 2m 4yo Hurdle - Gottany O'S

You can put a line through his last run - every time I send a good horse to Hexham they get beaten and I vow not to run another one there! He's much better than that and if he could return to his Newbury form, he wouldn't be without a chance. It's obviously a very good race but it's worth remembering he was smart on the Flat and if he can just get it all together, he certainly isn't out of place in a race like this. He's got local connectiosn and, having missed Cheltenham, he deserves a chance in a big race.


15.40 2m5f Hunter Chase - Cloudy Lane

I didn't feel he really had the run of things at Cheltenham but he ran well enough and he should be a force in a race like this with a clear round. He has the benefit of having jumped round here in the past and although he is dropping back in trip, he isn't short of gears and should be able to cope. You need a bit of luck in a race like this but, if he gets it, there's no reason why he couldn't go very close.


16.15 2m Handicap Chase - Tara Royal

I think he's my first runner in the Red Rum Chase and it would be nice to have one good enough to win it one day. I think the track here will suit him more than Cheltenham but the experience there should stand him in good stead - he hasn't had many goes in big-field handicaps. He's in grand form at home and as long as the track doesn't have too much more rain, he wouldn't be without a chance.


17.25 3m Handicap Hurdle - Son Of Flicka

It's never easy to gauge what mark Cheltenham has left on horses but he seems in good form at home and he did win well in the Coral Cup - the second's won since too. We didn't find out about his stamina for 3m when he fell at the first in this race 12 months ago - a fall that did set him back a bit - but I thought that the 2 ½ mile race might be on the sharp side for him round here. He shouldn't be far away if he is over his Cheltenham exertions.


Reindeer Dippin

He won't mind it if it keeps on raining and I actually thought he ran a really nice race in the Pertemps Final. He wouldn't be the best handicapped in the race but he's tough, he stays and he has run well at this track in the past, including when he was second at this meeting 12 months ago.


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