Aintree stages a cracking card on Sunday with two races over the National fences, and Paul Nicholls looks to have a strong hand in both.
Mr Pointment and Gungadu fly the Nicholls flag in the Totesport Becher Chase (2.50pm), a race the trainer has won three times in the past four years, and it would have been four had Le Duc got the better of Garvivonnian in 2005. Last year, he sent out Mr Pointment to land the spoils from near the top of the weights, and the nine-year-old runs off a 7lb higher mark this time. Still, his sound jumping and liking for the course should offset that burden, and he will be spot-on after a recent pipe-opener over hurdles. He looks a worthy favourite with the sponsors at 4/1.
His stablemate Gungadu (15/2 Coral) has an even stiffer task at the weights, yet he showed in last season's racing Post Chase that he can lump a big weight to victory, and he too will be better for his first run of the season at Ascot, when only finding two better-weighted horses too good. According to his Racing Post column, Nicholls just prefers his chances to those of Mr Pointment, but I'm going to take them both on with IDLE TALK (8/1 Stan James, William Hill).
Donald McCain's nine-year-old hasn't won for three years, but he completed the course in last year's Grand National and ran a fine race when a length runner-up to See You There over this trip at Carlisle last month on his return to action. Formerly an iffy jumper, Idle Talk put in several low, quick jumps that day under Brian Harding, and looked set to win turning for home only to tie up markedly at the last. Likely to have come on considerably for that outing, I can see him going really well here off a nice racing weight of 10st 7lb and with his stable in great form. Snap up the 8/1.
Of the rest, Irish Raptor (6/1 bet365) represents the red-hot stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies and he too has form over the National fences, having finished runner-up in last year's Topham Trophy. That race was over 2m6f, however, which may turn out to be his best trip considering he faded into sixth behind Mr Pointment in last year's Becher Chase. A bigger threat may come from Always Waining, winner of a good race at Market Rasen last time and trained by the in-form Peter Bowen, but unproven over the National fences.
Nicholls might be out of luck in the Becher Chase, but his GWANAKO is a strong fancy for the Sefton Chase (1.40), the second race over the National fences. He was simply awesome when winning last season's Topham Trophy on only his third chasing start and this race has been his target since. At the time of writing, only bet365 had priced the race up, with Gwanako on offer 11/4, but I'm going to hold out for 7/2 (or better) on the day, hopefully.
Recommended Bets:
Becher Chase - Idle Talk 2pts each way @ 8/1 Stan James, William Hill
Sefton Chase - Gwanako 2pts @ best morning-line price
