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Peter Marsh to provide a few more National clues |
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Saturday's renewal of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock looks set to offer a few more clues to the current wellbeing of a number of horses who are possible contenders for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree in April, writes Elliot Slater. Maktu, fifth in the Welsh Grand National recently, is a possible contender at Haydock for the Pat Murphy yard and could be set to go well if his exertions at Chepstow in extremely testing ground haven't taken too much out of him. A previous course and distance winner, Maktu doesn't necessarily have to have an out-an-out stamina test to be competitive so the three-miles and stiff Haydock fences should not prove an obvious barrier to him running well. Murphy's charge is currently on offer at around 50/1 for the Aintree marathon and could attract a fair few Grand National bets if he does well this weekend. Howard Johnson's Frankie Figg (available at up to 66/1 for the Grand National), hasn't been out for a couple of month but that was a winning performance at Aintree over the daunting 'National' fences, when gamely landing the Grand Sefton Chase by five lengths from Nikola. Raised a reasonable 6lbs for that performance Brian Hughes' mount is another likely to give a good account of himself ahead of a possible crack at 'the world's greatest steeplechase' in a couple of months time. Irish trainer Noel Glynn's Becauseicouldntsee is as short as 25/1 for the Grand National and having run a fine second in the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year there are no stamina doubts whatsoever on his part. Another cracking run last time out when second to Majestic Concorde in Leopardstown's Paddy Power Chase makes him a danger to all on Saturday and a horse who is a serious contender for honours come April. |
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