A grey day in store at Aintree? Ramses De Teillee set for another crack at Grand National
The versatile Ramses De Teillee shows us that he’s no slouch over hurdles either. #Doncaster pic.twitter.com/Uz9AqRPZjc
— Steve Mullington (@mulldog) 25 January 2020
Smart staying chaser Ramses De Teillee is on course for another crack at the Randox Health Grand National after an emphatic success over hurdles at Doncaster last weekend.
The eight-year-old has thrived in marathon chases in his career – already finishing runner-up in the 2018 Welsh Grand National before filling the same position in last year’s Grand National Trail – but stepped back into novice hurdle company in a bid to preserve his chasing mark.
However, in a fine bit of placement from trainer David Pipe, the grey thrived back over timber, bolting up by 17 lengths in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle in the hands of Tom Scudamore.
That victory saw him trimmed to a 40/1 shot for the National, but Scudamore believes he may pick up some more smart prizes along the road to Aintree.
“He’s very versatile. If anything he jumps a fence better than he jumps a hurdle, but he’s so slick from one side of an obstacle to the other,” he said.
“He’s gone and won a Grade Two novice hurdle and at the beginning of the season all roads led to Aintree, now he’s picked up two novice hurdles on the way.
“There’s no reason why he can’t pick up a few more.”
Could another National success be a ‘Pipe-dream’?
Pipe already has a Grand National winner next to his name courtesy of Comply Or Die’s 2008 victory and looks to have another lively hope to go in to battle with this year.
His charge may have two more runs at Haydock and the Cheltenham Festival before heading back to Merseyside, and Pipe believes Ramses De Teillee may be better suited for the National test this time around after being pulled up in the contest last year.
“He’s a good horse on his day but we’ve had his wind done,” the Somerset handler said.
“The plan was to go chasing again next, but we will speak to the owners and see. He’s still only eight and it feels like he has been around for years.
“The Grand National Trial was what we were thinking of – he finished second last year – but we will have to see.”
Fellow grey enhances Aintree credential
Another horse of the same colour also stepped up his Aintree preparations on Monday when Lake View Lad finished an encouraging third at Kelso.
Nick Alexander’s ten-year-old won the Rowland Meyrick Chase and finished third at the Cheltenham Festival last season and was well-fancied for the Grand National but disappointingly pulled up.
However, the son of Oscar has returned to form recently, and was only beaten nine-lengths off top-weight in the three-mile William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle.
He is now likely to be campaigned over hurdles until trying to avenge his Aintree mishap last term and is currently available at best-priced 66/1* to win the Grand National.
*Odds subject to change.
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