/ Timeform / 04 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Donald McCain: Runs Grand National hopeful Ballabriggs at Kelso
"Ballabriggs, who is prominent in the market for the Grand National, takes his chance in the Premier Chase instead of the aforementioned Grimthorpe at Doncaster."
Timeform look ahead to the weekend's action at Doncaster, Kelso and Newbury...
With just over a week to go until the Cheltenham Festival, quality jumps cards can be few and far between. However, this weekend we are treated to not one, but three competitive handicap chases at Kelso, Doncaster and Newbury, all of which contain horses targeting the Grand National .
The pick of Saturday's action has to be the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster in which Irish raider and Grand National possible Killyglen heads the weights. Killyglen was second in the race last year for Howard Johnson and whilst not having yet replicated that form for current connections, must be respected as he competes off a 2lb lower mark than last year. Killyglen will face stiff competition from the likes of Always Right, Presenting Forever and Ogee, as well as National hopefuls and old favourite's Merigo and Character Building.
Always Right created a good impression when winning easily last time and the trip and ground conditions should pose no problems for the improving gelding. Ogee has long had the talent required to win a contest such as this and his third to Chief Dan George at the Cheltenham Festival reads well in the context of this race, though he is often let down by his jumping. Presenting Forever looks one of the better handicapped for all that he carries 11-11 and a reproduction of his run last time (beaten a neck by Midnight Chase) could see the bold-jumping front runner hard to peg back. Last year's Scottish National winner Merigo is taking in this race enroute to a possible run in the 'big one' in April, whilst Character Building has been given a chance by the handicapper but must prove he retains the ability that saw him win the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in 2009.
Kelso provides us with two races of note in the Premier Chase and the Grade 2 Premier Kelso Hurdle.
Ballabriggs, who is prominent in the market for the Grand National, takes his chance in the Premier Chase instead of the aforementioned Grimthorpe at Doncaster. Having won both his starts novice hurdles this season since victory at last year's Cheltenham Festival, this appears to be Ballabriggs final prep race prior to taking his chance at Aintree. The main dangers to the likely short priced favourite appear to be Chief Dan George, himself a previous winner at the Cheltenham and Skippers Brig who ran better than his finishing position suggested on his return from a 12 month absence at Leopardstown, prior to winning a three mile handicap hurdle on his latest start.
The Grade 2 Kelso Hurdle sees the younger brigade get a chance to show what they're made of and this race includes plenty of promising types. The Alistair Whillans-trained Storm Brig bids to complete a seasonal hat trick in style in this event and should be open to further improvement now stepped up slightly in trip. Desert Cry was an impressive winner on heavy ground at Sedgefield last time and both Bold Sir Brian and Priceless Art are both open to further improvement, too.
At Newbury the Greatwood Gold Cup takes centre stage. The weights are headed by four horses including former Irish Grand National winner and Hennesy fifth, Niche Market. This will be the Paul Nicholls trained gelding's first outing since undergoing a breathing operation and he again is likely to head to the Grand National after this. One expected to run well is the Martin Keighley-trained Ikorodu Road. The stable are in a rich vein of form at the moment and this useful chaser, who is yet to win over fences, is fancied to run a very big race. Big Fella Thanks also takes in this race prior to a Grand National tilt. Last year's winner was a credible fourth to Riverside Theatre in a Grade 1 last time out has to be respected on his repeat bid. Fine Parchment who has relished being dropped back in trip of late catches the eye at the bottom of the handicap, as does Maktu who was sent off favourite for the Welsh National earlier in the season and drops back in trip having faltered over further of late.
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