The Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase is the highlight in Ireland on Saturday. Alongside Betfair‘s new customer offer of £30 In Free Bets when you bet £10, GG have previewed all the runners in the big race at Fairyhouse.
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One of the most versatile horses in training, ANY SECOND NOW is back over fences for the first time since finishing third in last year’s Grand National.
Testament to his adaptability is the fact he won his previous start before the national in a two-mile Grade 2 at Navan in March. He is a horse of significant ability and but for some poor luck in running a year ago, may have claimed the Aintree prize for Ted Walsh.
He has run twice over hurdles so far this season, both of which saw him finish down the field, but that was probably to be expected and the true test for him lies ahead in April. Nevertheless, now that the weights have been published for the Grand National, there is no need to hide his mark and he is in with a chance despite an 8lb penalty.
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Another under a Grade 2 penalty for having won a novice chase last season, COKO BEACH is, like the rest of the field, preparing for a National tilt later on in the season.
Whether that will be in the Irish or Aintree equivalents is uncertain at this stage, but the grey is clearly capable of a high level of performance when at his best. This season has been slightly more of a slog for him, but he hasbeen given some tough assignments and was back to something near his best at Punchestown in their Grand National Trial a couple of weeks ago.
He is probably more up to handicap level than he is to open Graded company, but he has not really been tried at this level over this trip. The softer conditions are also almost certainly in his favour.
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BURROWS SAINT is now without a win in over two years, but the former Irish National hero will be in search of righting that wrong sooner rather than later.
He was second in this contest to stablemate Acapella Bourgeois a year ago, but this season he has had a previous run over fences to boot. In that contest, he was second to dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo in that horse’s customary Tramore return, briefly threatening to cause a significant upset.
He is the best treated horse in the race on ratings and is infinitely better over fences than he is hurdles. In receipt of 8lb from the top two, he could well prove too good with soft ground no longer seeming a hindrance to him.
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Gordon Elliott’s second runner in the race was very well backed for Aintree on the back of the Grand National weights release last week.
ESCARIA TEN went off favourite for the National Hunt Chase won by Gold Cup hope Galvin just under 12 months ago and though neither of his subsequent runs have shown him in the best light, he remains decidedly unexposed over fences. He has just the six runs over the larger obstacles to date.
On his best Graded form from last season, he would be in with a real chance up against the duo with a penalty. Similarly, he is not far behind Burrows Saint on ratings and has scope for improvement in this small field.
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Big Race Verdict
Last year’s runner-up BURROWS SAINT has no stablemates to fear this time. His return to chasing at Tramore went as swimmingly as could have been hoped up against Al Boum Photo and he is probably in better shape than 12 months ago. Escaria Ten is second best, though Any Second Now and Coko Beach cannot be totally discounted.
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