Bindaree set for Becher assignment
The nine-year-old fell at the second fence in the same race 12 months ago but his trainer is expecting a better performance in this year’s renewal.
“He has been working well and schooling well. I’m delighted with him,” Twiston-Davies said yesterday.
“I’m hopeful of a good run this weekend, very much so. I have absolutely no worries about the ground, he’ll go on anything.”
The eight-times winner again completed the Grand National last April, plugging on to take sixth place behind the victorious Monty’s Pass.
“Another crack at the Grand National is the long term plan and we’ll probably take a similar route as last year to get there,” the handler added.
Conditions for this weekend’s two-day meeting are promising to be on the easy side following recent rainfall in the Liverpool area.
“It’s looking good,” clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch explained.
“We have had eight millimetres of rain since yesterday afternoon and, while it should be dry tomorrow, there may be a bit of rain again on Saturday.
“I’m walking the track at the moment and the National course is likely to be good to soft, good in places. Although I’m only halfway round the Mildmay it looks on be on the easier side here as well.
“We have been very fortunate. We had the rain during August and September which has helped us tremendously. We had good ground for the October meeting, and everybody seemed very happy with it.”
Meanwhile Paul Nicholls wants rain at Ascot for Le Roi Miguel to take his chance in the First National Bank Gold Cup at the Berkshire track on Saturday.
“Of course I would like to run him but I really would like to see more rain at Ascot if he is going to take his chance,” he said yesterday.
