Racing tips: Two For Gold to put his National fence experience to use in the Grand Sefton

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Exeter had problems with the low sunlight and that meant a few fences weren't jumped, and I think that hindered St Erney in his chance of winning. He ran a cracker in fairness but the extra fences would've made it more of a stamina test and helped him as he had jumped great throughout. 

As for the other runner on the day, Third Time Lucki, he simply isn't good enough. I got caught in the hype train of him from last year, which is often a thing which happens a lot with these Skelton horses, and he was beaten very easily. Some might say he would've gone close if it wasn't for the bad mistake, for me, I think the winner was always winning. Harry Cobden got the winner in a lovely rhythm and he proved his class carrying a very big weight. Third Time Lucki won't win a Grade 1 based on what I've seen, he's not good enough.

Aintree 2:11

Speaking about horses carrying top weight, I think TWO FOR GOLD has a cracking chance in the Grand Sefton which sees us over the National fences for the first time of the new season.

We already know this horse jumps these fences well as he was running a good race in the Grand National before eventually being pulled up with the trip being far too long for him, which was always the concern having normally raced over today's trip or slightly further. However, he jumped well in the National and took to the fences nicely, so combining his experience and the drop back in trip, I think he is a major player.

People will have their concerns about the weight he has to carry, which is a fair comment, but he is the class horse in the race and he is tough as teak which makes me believe he can overcome the weight problems. He finished 2nd in a Grade 1 last year, so he has the right to carry 12st today, but I'm fairly confident that if he runs anywhere near to the form he showed at Ascot when finishing behind Fakir D'oudairies, he will go very close.

The Kim Bailey yard continues to be in good form so his fitness isn't a concern to me on seasonal reappearance and he gets his ideal ground, so he ticks a lot of boxes.

Aintree 2:45

For me, DASHEL DRASHER should not be the third favourite in this four-runner affair. I think he has a superb chance of winning this race, so it's strange to see he's not fancied in the market as I thought he would be.

I can see why the other two ahead of him in the market are fancied, but surely the Skelton horse has too much to prove against these horses. Langer Dan was a lot of people's form of a banker at Cheltenham where he was eventually brought down, thankfully for punters, he avenged that defeat with a win at the Aintree Festival soon after in a Grade 3, doing it in good style. However, due to that win he now carries a penalty, which isn't ideal for him as he is already a fair few lbs behind his main rivals in the handicap, so that does look like a problem to me, and enough to not go anywhere near him at the current prices.

Brewin'upastorm is a horse who has always looked like a top-level performer but then blows out when getting a decent chance to prove himself. He won this race last year, but in hindsight, it probably wasn't a great renewal, and I think this year's race is much tougher even though there are fewer horses taking part. I don't think he should be close to EVS, and if you're backing him at those odds you're either much more confident than me or stupid.

Dashel Drasher is a quality horse on his day, being a previous Grade 1 winner. He is a horse who wears his heart on his sleeve, often running from the front and being extremely difficult to get past. I think they will run him from the front and try and make all. He probably is better over fences, but he's a very good hurdler and won on his last try over the smaller obstacles when beating Beauport and giving away 18lbs to that horse, who has gone on to win races and be a very exciting talent. For me, that form is up there with the best on show. He'll love the track and love the ground, and I think he offers great value at the prices. My concern is the fitness issue, as he doesn't have a great record when fresh, but at the prices, he is worth a gamble.

Wincanton 1:50

Seeing Frodon turn up in this race is interesting off 12st as I'm sure I heard Paul Nicholls saying they were going to go to Down Royal and defend their crown in the Grade 1 which Frodon won last year, but they've obviously had a change in heart and gone for this good prize. If the ground remains on the good side of things then I think he has clearly got a good chance, but with the forecast rain, I think that could go against him. I've not spoken to Cairnzy for a few days, but I imagine if he doesn't post Frodon up as a tip, he'll be having a few quid on his favourite horse.

For me, CAP DU NORD has been targeted this race as his first big race of the year. Christian Williams is arguably the best target trainer of handicaps like this over 3m+ as we saw on many occasions last season with the likes of Win My Wings and even Cap Du Nord. This horse was strongly fancied in this race last year, going off at 9/2 joint-favourite where he ran well to finish fourth. He is 3lb lower in the ratings this year and has taken the same prep run as he did last year which was Chepstow. With that run under his belt, he should be spot on for this run. With Frodon in the race, it means that Cap Du Nord carries a joint bottom weight of 10st 2lbs, which is extremely nice to see and I think at the current prices he is a belting EW bet.

I can see him being strong in the market in the morning of racing and just before the off, so if you're getting on, do it early as possible.

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