Grand National Pointers?

There are seven races on ITV4 this afternoon with some big names on show at Kempton and Warwick.  David has no runners but there is some good action at both tracks supported by Wetherby over jumps and Lingfield and Chelmsford on the flat There is also some good jumping in Ireland at Fairyhouse.  The feature race of the day at Warwick is the Classic staying chase and this is a race that can provide some clues to the Grand National itself.  In fact I was reading in the Racing Post that since the year 2000 34 horses have gone on to run at Aintree after running in this race.  13 completed the Grand National course, five finished in the first seven and there have been two winners.  These were Auroras Encore in 2013 and One For Arthur in 2017.  The favourite this afternoon is the David Bridgwater trained The Conditional ridden by Brendan Powell who brings some very good form to the table.  He is my selection for the race and who knows could we see him in the big one at Aintree in April?

Meanwhile at Kempton there are some good races including the Silviniaco Conti chase and the Lanzarote hurdle.  David Noonan rides Kauto Riko in the chase and is 6/1 in the Racing Post.  Last time he was just beaten by Top Notch in the Grade 2 Peterborough chase when 100/1.  There are no such odds this afternoon and it would be nice if he could confirm the form and run as well again although it will be tough to reverse the form with Top Notch.  The Lanzarote hurdle at 2.40pm looks very competitive as you would expect.  They have put the J P McManus owned Notre Pari as favourite but I am interested in the Philip Hobbs trained Larkbarrow Lad.  The yard is flying at the moment, he is on the upgrade and he looks a bit more value at 8/1 with Tom O'Brien in the saddle.

Huntingdon sadly lost it's fixture yesterday after a late inspection.  Unfortunately for the track the actual course was fine but after overnight rain the water levels in surrounding waterways began to rise and started to flood parts of the the complex.  Horses, trainers, jockeys and racegoers were all at the course ready for action and it was just one of those things that was out of human control and no one was to blame.  I see Nicky Henderson called for the whole card to be rescheduled for Sunday which sounded a good idea to me.  The BHA did not think so however and this is now the second consecutive meeting that Huntingdon have lost having abandoned their Boxing Day card due to flooding as well.

Premiership football action returns this weekend and the big match today is Tottenham versus Liverpool at 5.30pm.  It will be hard for Spurs to beat the relentless Liverpool I should think even though they are at home. In the early game Crystal Palace are at home to Arsenal at 12.30pm  Have a good day and enjoy all the sporting action.