The Stage is Set for Aintree Drama
Saturday afternoon at Aintree brings us one of the most intriguing contests on the Aintree racecard - the Golf Inn Prestwick Luxury Accommodation Open National Hunt Flat Race. This Class 2 affair over two miles carries serious prize money at £16,500, and with it being a Category 1 Elimination event, the stakes couldn't be higher.
The going is described as Soft, Good to Soft in places - perfect conditions for a proper test of stamina and class. With 12 declared runners aged between four and six, we're guaranteed a competitive spectacle that will have punters on the edge of their seats.
What makes this race particularly fascinating is the presence of three runners from the Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore stable. When a yard sends three to a contest like this, you know they mean business!
The Main Contenders Battle for Glory
Coconut Man heads the market with Jack Power in the saddle. This five-year-old gelding carries the 11-7 top weight but brings both course and distance winning form to the table. The Russell-Scudamore team know exactly what it takes to win at Aintree, and Coconut Man's proven track record here makes him a formidable proposition.
Stablemate Jardin de Tunis poses an equally serious threat under Derek Fox. Also a course and distance winner carrying 11-7, this gelding represents the same connections and will be primed for a big performance. Fox's experience around these famous fences - even on the flat - could prove invaluable.
Old Habits brings Olly Murphy's expertise to the party with Sean Bowen taking the reins. This distance winner knows how to see out a staying trip, and Bowen's tactical nous could be crucial in a race that's likely to develop into a war of attrition.
The Irish challenge comes courtesy of Gordon Elliott's Skerry Hill, partnered by Danny Gilligan. Elliott's runners always demand respect, particularly in staying contests, and this five-year-old could be the fly in the ointment for the British-trained favourites.
The Tactical Picture and Going Concerns
The soft ground will play a crucial role in how this race unfolds. Those with proven form on testing surfaces will hold a significant advantage, while any runners who need better ground could find themselves struggling in the closing stages.
With no draw to consider in this National Hunt flat race, positioning and pace will be everything. The two-mile trip on soft ground will be a proper stamina test, and we can expect the field to be well strung out by the time they turn for home.
Harry Skelton aboard Keops des Bordes for Dan Skelton represents serious each-way value. The six-year-old gets a handy 4lb allowance at 11-3, and the Skelton team have been in red-hot form recently.
Paul Nicholls' Le Cold Grey with Harry Cobden up cannot be dismissed either. Ditcheat's master trainer has a knack for producing horses ready to win first time up, and Cobden's tactical awareness could see them steal a march on more fancied rivals.
Value Picks and Potential Surprises
The four-year-olds carry just 10-9 and could provide the value in this contest. Brady Hartsfield from John McConnell's yard with Alex Harvey aboard looks particularly interesting. The weight allowance could be crucial over this trip on testing ground.
Sea Tempest represents Tom Lacey and Stan Sheppard - another four-year-old who gets the weight allowance. Lacey's horses often improve dramatically for their seasonal debuts, making this one to keep onside at bigger odds.
Danny McMenamin takes the ride on Close House for A. Slattery, and this five-year-old could be the dark horse of the race. McMenamin knows how to get horses home in testing conditions, and the 11-3 weight looks very workable.
The Verdict and Final Selection
This shapes up as a cracking contest with several legitimate chances, but the Russell-Scudamore double-handed attack looks formidable. Both Coconut Man and Jardin de Tunis bring the right credentials, but in a race like this, experience and tactical riding will prove crucial.
The selection is Jardin de Tunis with Derek Fox. His course and distance winning form, combined with Fox's expertise and the trainer's excellent record in similar contests, makes him the pick to land the spoils. The soft ground will suit, and Fox's ability to time his challenge to perfection could be the decisive factor.
Each-way value lies with Keops des Bordes, whose weight allowance and the Skelton team's current form make him a serious player at bigger odds. Don't be surprised if one of the four-year-olds runs into the frame either - that weight allowance could be gold dust over this trip.
Who is the favourite for the Golf Inn Prestwick Open National Hunt Flat Race?
Coconut Man is expected to head the market as favourite, bringing proven course and distance form to this Class 2 contest. His connections with the Russell-Scudamore stable and partnership with Jack Power make him the one to beat, though stablemate Jardin de Tunis will be equally well-supported by punters.
How will the soft going affect the race outcome?
The soft, good to soft going will turn this into a proper test of stamina over the two-mile trip. Horses with proven form on testing surfaces will hold a significant advantage, while the conditions will likely see the field well spread out in the closing stages. The weight allowances for younger horses could prove even more valuable in these energy-sapping conditions.
Which jockeys have the best chance of success?
Derek Fox and Jack Power both bring excellent Aintree experience and will be aboard the market leaders from the Russell-Scudamore stable. Sean Bowen's tactical awareness on Old Habits makes him a serious threat, while Harry Skelton's current form and partnership with the well-handicapped Keops des Bordes could provide the surprise package of the race.
