Ballabriggs poised for seasonal reappearance
Donald McCain’s 11-year-old is among 12 entries for the 2m6f Totepool.com Premier Chase at Kelso, a race he finished second in last year prior to winning the National.
Ballabriggs also holds entries for the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury and William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, both on Saturday.
Other leading Grand National fancies Junior and West End Rocker feature among 15 entries for the Grimthorpe.
David Pipe’s Junior is likely to be given a run back over fences after returning from a long break with an outing over hurdles at Newbury recently.
Junior is, however, unlikely to go to Doncaster if the ground is on the soft side.
He could instead have his prep run for the Grand National in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“We’re having a look at Doncaster, but we don’t want to give him a hard race under a big weight on softish ground,” said Tim Palin, racing manager for owners Middleham Park.
“I think for his next race at the minute the favourite is the Gold Cup – that would be a nice pipe-opener.
“It’s worked for horses like Rough Quest and Miinnehoma, who ran it before going on to win the National.
“This weekend would only be 15 days since his first run of the season.
“We agreed last weekend that we would run him on the best possible ground.
“If it’s good to soft on the opening day at Cheltenham the Gold Cup would probably be run on good ground given the usual weather in March.”
West End Rocker, from Alan King’s stable, showed his aptitude for the National obstacles when winning the Becher Chase on his latest start in December. He also holds an engagement in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.
Cheltenham, rather than Aintree, is the main objective for Fruity O’Rooney, who was third in the Sky Bet Chase at this course in January.
That was a tremendous effort considering his saddle slipped and jockey Jamie Moore lost his irons in the closing stages.
Trainer Gary Moore has given the nine-year-old the option of this race if it looks like he may not make the cut for the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Moore told At The Races: “We didn’t run him on Saturday (in the Racing Plus Chase) because he’s probably better going left-handed than right, and also the ground had gone quick at Kempton – that wouldn’t have suited him.
“He’s entered for the Grimthorpe on Saturday just in case when the weights come out for Cheltenham he doesn’t get in. His form is solid and he’s a very consistent horse.”
Other Grimthorpe entries include Mac Aeda, Master Of The Hall, Emma Lavelle’s pair of Penny Max and Zarrafakt, Exmoor Ranger and Benny Be Good.
Malcolm Jefferson’s According To Pete, already the winner of the Rowland Meyrick and the Peter Marsh Chases this season, could chase yet another decent prize in the Premier Chase at Kelso.
The two powerhouse British stables are represented, with Paul Nicholls giving Aerial the option, and Nicky Henderson having entered Master Of The Hall.
James Ewart’s Sa Suffit may revert to fences, while former Howard Johnson inmates, Abbeybraney, now with George Bewley and the John Wade-trained Door Boy, could also clash. Auroras Encore, Ballycolin, Benny Be Good, Tartan Snow and Waterski complete the entry.
