A really competitive renewal of the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, a Grade 2 handicap featuring several Grade 1 winners from recent seasons.
It’s racing’s equivalent of silly season right now with match fitness anyone’s guess and horses starting their long path towards the spring festivals.
Many will be using this race as a stepping stone to bigger things – Smad Place is warming up for a repeat bid for Newbury’s Hennessy and the multiple-Grade 1 winner God’s Own will be aimed at repeating his 2015 heroics in the new year.
There’s a class of horse that can make the most of this time of year, and VIBRATO VALTAT is probably not good enough to make a mark at Grade 1 level so his trainer, Paul Nicholls, must see this as a nice opportunity for him to scoop some prize money.
He goes really well fresh having won the Haldon Gold Cup first time out last season, beating Sire De Grugy and God’s Own, and gets his perfect ground so should run a big race.
This is a handicap after all, and he receives a 3lb more in this encounter from God’s Own so could be right at the weights.
He looks a solid bet at 6/1.
1pt win Vibrato Valtat @6/1, 15:50 Aintree, Sunday
Leave a comment