Tom Scudamore’s tips on Grand National day
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Former jockey and Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore has tips for all seven races from the final day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting, including the 5.15 showpiece.
I know Calico gave Jonbon a bit of a scare at Warwick earlier in the season, but that is all it was. I think this will be straightforward for Nicky Henderson’s runner. You’d have a little respect for Notlongtillmay, as he ran well at Cheltenham, but he is dropping down to 2m now. I don’t think this is the strongest Grade One we have seen before.
I expected Jonbon to win at Cheltenham, but he was beaten by a good horse. I am not concerned about the short turnaround between Cheltenham and Aintree as he finished second at the Festival last year and then won at Aintree. He is very tough, and with a clear round, he is going to take some beating.
This is a tough race to call but the one I do like at a big price is Pounding Poet for Tom Lacey. He beat me earlier this season around Uttoxeter. Tom does have a history of targeting this race and that may be the case again here. It looks like they have been waiting for better ground for their horse.
Hermes Allen had a tough race at Cheltenham. Things did not go right for him that day. I think it will be difficult for him to turn that around.
Springwell Bay looks like a horse that has been campaigned with one of the big spring festivals in mind. He is a decent price against those who had tough races at Cheltenham.
I am going to go for the old boy in this race, Sire Du Berlais. He finally won the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. He was successful in this contest 12 months ago. I think the race will be run to suit him again, as I expect it to be strongly run, and he is the strongest stayer in the field.
Flooring Porter and Dashel Drasher will set the pace, and I have always thought Aintree is a tough course to make all around. Constitution Hill was able to do it and I was able to do it on Thistlecrack, but they were different circumstances. In this race, there is genuine pace, so it will suit Sire Du Berlais, who I think is overpriced.
I’d have a small play on Eldorado Allen here. I know he has a lot of weight, but he is dropping back down to handicap company. He has shown glimpses of his best this season and I think everything will suit him in this race.
It is not a case of heart overruling the head, I do think Corach Rambler will win this race. He was so impressive at Cheltenham and he has had a good preparation for this. He has schooled well over the National fences. Derek (Fox) knows him well and that is a big plus for him as he is not straightforward to ride.
Noble Yeats has had a brilliant season. He has taken his form to a new level. It was a big run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when finishing fourth. He galloped right through the line. Like Hedgehunter did, I think he may just fall short with the amount of weight he needs to concede, but I can’t see him being outside the front four.
I know he fell last time at Leopardstown, but The Big Dog is a great jumper. He is a standing dish in these national races. He is an honest horse who will run his heart out.
At a big price, I also think Sam Brown could run well. There may be a bit of rain around before the race and that will suit his chances. He has put up some big performances in the past. A few years ago, they were looking at this horse as a Gold Cup type. He ran well at Aintree here last year. We could all sit down here after the race on Saturday and look at his form and think, we should have seen this coming.
Tom Scudamore’s Grand National 1-2-3-4:
1. Corach Rambler
2. Noble Yeats
3. The Big Dog
4. Sam Brown
I had some great days in the Ben and Roger Brookhouse colours. I think they can win the bumper with Aslukgoes. He produced a very good performance at Newbury back in February to win a Listed race. Newbury is not too dissimilar to Aintree as a course, so I think this place will suit him.
Tom
