Silver By Nature and Giles Cross have, between them, won the Betfred Grand National Trial for the last three years and both are in action in the Haydock marathon again this weekend. The former was successful in 2010 and 2011 and is no stranger to big weights. But this will be the grey’s first outing since finishing tailed off in the 2011 Grand National and 2012 winner Giles Cross was pulled up in the Welsh National last month, his first start since suffering a similar fate in last year’s Grand National. The pair are a general 16/1 and 9/1 (Ladbrokes) respectively but others make more appeal.
Well Refreshed has made giant strides this winter and beat Rigadin De Beauchene by more than three lengths over 3m at Lingfield in December. An 8/1 chance with Coral and Skybet, Gary Moore‘s mud-lover ran away with the Sussex National over 3m5f at Plumpton on his next start while Rigadin De Beauchene proved he was a useful stayer in the making when pouncing late to beat subsequent scorer Godsmejudge in the valuable Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick. Venetia Williams‘ charge is 12lb better off with Well Refreshed than when beaten at Lingfield and will surely turn the tables at Haydock which is why he is only a best 5/1 with Coral and a point shorter with most other layers.
Monbeg Dude (6/1 with bet365 and sportingbet) just got the better of Teaforthree (a general 5/1) in the Welsh National with Triggerman (16/1 with Boylesports, Skybet and Stan James) a distant third but the runner-up comes out best at the weights this time and is a leading fancy for Aintree. Viking Blond was pulled up at Chepstow but bounced back with a second at Sandown and is a general 16/1 here and is preferred to veteran Trigger The Light (a general 33/1) but we are nailing our colours to the mast of CANNINGTON BROOK.
Coral may be a bit big at 9/1 on this Haydock specialist, though you can also get similar odds on Betfair about the Tizzard‘s three-time course winner who revels in heavy ground. Taking into consideration the fact that he has never won anywhere else but here over fences, his performance at Ffos Las two weeks ago was all the more creditable. He travelled like a winner for most of the way on the Welsh track but couldn’t match former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers over the final two fences, though was rallying on the flat and only beaten two and a quarter lengths. He has the measure of Mac Aeda (25/1 with BetVictor and Skybet) on their run together on the track earlier in the season and looks the one to beat again.
