Seldom wrong, it’s ‘Always Right’

Seldom wrong, it’s ‘Always Right’


CHELTENHAM may be on everyone’s mind at the minute but, on Saturday afternoon at Haydock, there will be a temporary release from the festival frenzy as thoughts switch to the Grand National.
The Betfred Grand National Trial, over 3m4f, is a real stamina test and provides plenty of clues for the Aintree showpiece in April. Hold On Julio has been installed as the early favourite after a sizzling showing at Sandown last month but Alan King won’t want to run him in such an energy-sapping race less than a month before the Cheltenham Festival and it would be no surprise to see him sidestep the race in favour of an easier opportunity.
There are plenty of progressive staying chasers among the entries and ALWAYS RIGHT is certainly one of them. A former top-class point-to-pointer, John Wade’s charge has made a smooth transition to handicap chases and was beaten only a length by Beshabar in last year’s Scottish National at Ayr.
He returned to action at Kelso in early December when winning an ultra-competitive 12-runner contest and, on the back of that promising performance, Always Right was hammered into 2-1 favouritism for the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on St Stephen’s Day. What was most intriguing about that was the fact that James Reveley decided to head to Wetherby to ride Always Right instead of having the plum ride on Diamond Harry in the King George.
As it transpired, Always Right disappointed and was pulled up early in the home straight but he had travelled well up to that point and stopped as if something was amiss. Wade is convinced that he has the problem sorted and reports Always Right to be back in tip-top shape for Saturday’s showdown.
He’s currently 16-1 with Bet 365 but, if Hold On Julio doesn’t turn up, that price will plummet.
THE FESTIVAL
SO WHAT’S the secret to profitable ante-post punting at Cheltenham? Ssshhh. Come in close and don’t tell a soul. There are three key ingredients.
First, find a race where those towards the summit of the market aren’t likely to run. Second, find a horse that is guaranteed to run in that race. And finally, make sure the selection has a progressive profile and some previous course form.
MINELLA CLASS ticks all those boxes. Nicky Henderson’s strapping sort, who has enough speed for two miles and stays three miles, has only been entered in the Jewson Novices’ Chase. Interesting.
What’s even more interesting is that the first four horses in the betting probably won’t run. Sir Des Champs and Silviniaco Conti will head for the RSA while Peddlers Cross and Al Ferof are Arkle bound.
Will Minella Class be 20-1 if that quartet doesn’t turn up? No. He won’t even be half those odds. So what about course form? His sole try at Cheltenham was in last year’s Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle where he looked a real threat before fading into sixth. He was only beaten eight lengths though and First Lieutenant, Rock On Ruby, So Young and Oscars Well, who finished in front of him, are all genuine Grade 1 performers.
No doubt Henderson has had this race in mind before Minella Class even jumped a fence and with the contest set to cut up badly, the 20-1 on-offer with Ladbrokes is too big.

OUR ADVICE
Betfred Grand National Trial (Haydock, Saturday)
Always Right
1pt win 16-1 with Bet 365     

Ante-post portfolio
Jewson Novices’ Chase
Minella Class
1pt win 20-1 with Ladbrokes