Ucello Conti each-way value in Becher Chase at Aintree
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Well-weighted Ucello Conti the Becher bet
Irish raider Ucello Conti looks decent each-way value in the valuable Becher Handicap Chase over the Grant National fences at Aintree on Saturday (13:35).
The gelding was an eight-time winner in France who posted a series of solid efforts in hot handicaps last season after joining trainer Gordon Elliott.
They included an excellent 1 1/2 length second of 22 to Minella Foru at Leopardstown and a third of 18 to Mr Murphy in the valuable Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park off a rating of 143.
Cracking effort in Grand National
Both those races have thrown-up plenty of subsequent winners and Ucello Conti went on to round off the campaign with a fine sixth of 39 to Rule The Word in the Grand National at this venue off a mark of 149.
He jumped well in the main over the unique fences and held every chance until at the 19th until making a couple of costly errors and weakening to be beaten 37 lengths.
It was a fine effort for an eight-year-old and Ucello Conti is now able to race off a reduced rating of 144.
Nicely treated and yard in flying form
It makes him potentially very well-treated on the pick of his form, especially as he looks the type who should have more to offer this season.
Ucello Conti should also be spot on to do himself justice following a recent spin over hurdles when a tenderly handled last of seven in a Grade 2 contest at Navan and hails from a yard in red-hot form.
Elliott is also a master at laying one out to land a punt in big handicaps and another plus is that Ucello Conti is versatile as regards ground.
The 3m 1f trip also looks ideal for the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned son of Martaline and everything looks in place for Ucello Conti to run a huge race in a typically wide-open looking renewal of the Becher.
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