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Aldeburgh still in good heart

April 14th, 2017 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News

It was a good Grand National day for us, although Saint Are was much bigger than 25/1 a few days before the famous old marathon took place. He is a tough sort but fated not to win the race after finishing second two years ago and now third.

Snow Falcon finished a close third in the three-mile hurdle and I shall stay with him at Punchestown, though I fear he is not the hardiest of battlers when the chips are down.

I’m ready to let the jumps season go apart from the big Irish meeting, which means Saturday will be very quiet for me. Unlike Good Friday, when I should have tipped Kimberella on the line as well as in the Weekend Card. It’s all about timing these days and I wanted a bit more than his 4/1 joint-favourite SP.

Pixeleen was outclassed in the good sprint at Bath but only shaken off approaching the furlong pole. I’d be interested in her back in handicap company but she will need to win soon; we don’t want to be chasing after her like last season. Stable-companion Babyfact started at 20/1 in the closing sprnt handicap – an extraordinary price for a course specialist. Clearly the bookmakers’ card had been marked there and she ran no race at all, with Jimmy Quinn bouncing up and down from quite early on. There was something wrong there but I suppose I’d better leave it.

Studying Ryan Moore’s ‘outside’ bookings is often profitable and David Barron has snapped him up for ROBOT BOY in the five-furlong handicap at Kempton on Saturday. This is not a horse to call the bank on but Robot Boy won well before finishing third in good company last time. He has top weight here but this is a lesser task and the former champion may well be on another winner.

ALDEBURGH did callers to the line a good turn at 14/1 at Nottingham a while back. He is in good form at present and the ten-furlong handicap at Brighton looks right for him. He could win a modest maiden hurdle on fast ground so he will stay the trip all right but it’s important the ground remains at least good, preferably good to firm.