Mirabad was quite a big drifter in the market, and ran how the market suggested.
Rubaud is a good horse when getting an uncontested lead, and that is what happened. After seeing them run against each other over hurdles, and seeing Mirabad running past Rubaud like he wasn't there, I didn't see that performance coming from the winner.
As for Here Comes Georgie, it was a Harry Skelton special. Place the horse in last place, realise that he's got the horse too far back, and when he wants to rush the horse through the field, the horse makes constant mistakes. I think he's not great when riding from the rear, and you'll notice that his mounts make a lot of mistakes when he's in the saddle.
No Drama This End 5/4 – Aintree 2.25
During the winter of last year, No Drama This End was the typical hype horse from the Nicholls stable, but once he got to Cheltenham, it went wrong. Harry Cobden wasn't happy with how the race started at Cheltenham, and it was evident that the horse wasn't on the same level of form that he had shown earlier in the season.
I did think that it was the usual hype train from Nicholls, and the things he was saying about him being the next best thing were just incorrect, but he did put that run behind him when winning at Perth the time after. Do I think he's as good as what the yard thinks? I don't believe so, but I think he could be a smart chaser in the making, and we will see a much better version of him now he's going over fences.
This isn't a gimme on his chasing debut, as he is running against a chase winner from the Skelton yard, as well as a useful last-season hurdler from the Pauling stable. However, if we're basing it on who achieved the most over hurdles, it was No Drama This End. He did win the Challow Grade 1, granted that race has mixed signals, it has also produced plenty of very smart horses from this stable.
If his fitness isn't an issue, I think he will make a smart debut over fences and put himself in prime position for some exciting novice chases as the season progresses.
Boombawn 3/1 – Aintree 3.35
I tipped up Boombawn for the Old Roan Chase, which was meant to take place a couple of weeks ago, but the meeting was abandoned due to the extremely strong winds. I thought that he was well handicapped for that race, so there's no reason for me to change my opinion on that just because he's in a different race.
In theory, this is an easier race than the Old Roan, as it's a Class 2 when the Old Roan is a Grade 2. There are a few in this race that were also meant to contest that race, so I believe Boombawn is the one to be on.
This track plays to his strengths, and considering he was fourth in the Old Roan last year off a handicap mark of 153 and today he is running off a mark of 143, what's not to like?
GambleAware