SPRINGFIELD FOX is fancied to stay ahead of the chasing pack to land the Coral Welsh Grand National (3.10) at Chepstow today.
His days as a novice chaser last winter suggested the Tom George-trained grey could make up into a smart performer.
The three-time point-to-point winner had just three outings over hurdles before hitting the bullseye on his debut over fences at this afternoon’s course last January.
Springfield Fox scored by 12 lengths that afternoon, and add another five lengths to his winning distance at Exeter three weeks later.
On the strength of those two victories, my selection went off at 7-1 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March, only to unseat the trainer’s son Noel at the 16th of the 23 obstacles.
That mishap doesn’t detract from the eight-year-old’s profile as a chaser still on the up – and a distance of ground with plenty of give underfoot make for his ideal conditions.
(Image: Getty)
A recent pipe-opener over hurdles will have put an edge on Springfield Fox for his toughest test – and a British Horseracing Authority rating of 140 looks within range for Sean Bowen’s mount, who has plenty more to offer.
Saturday racing tips
LINGFIELD PARK
11.30 SUBLIMINAL
12.00 WHO CARES WINS
12.31 STARSHIBA
1.05 SNOW OCEAN
1.40 SHEILA
2.15 CARDANO
2.50 CORAZON ESPINADO
3.25 INVINCIBLE LARNE
CHEPSTOW
11.45 CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM
12.17 ESPRIT DU LARGE
12.50 FARRANTS WAY
1.25 NASSALAM
1.58 ASK ME EARLY
2.30 EASY AS THAT
3.10 SPRINGFIELD FOX (NAP)
3.50 WHITEOAK FLEUR
WINCANTON
11.52 MALINELLO
12.25 ON TO VICTOR
12.58 EDE’IFFS ELTON
1.30 TAKE YOUR TIME
2.05 PROTEKTORAT
2.35 GALA BALL
3.05 ANIGHTINLAMBOURN
3.45 GLAJOU
KEMPTON PARK
12.05 SAGE ADVICE
12.35 THE DOMINO EFFECT
1.10 ERICK LE ROUGE
1.45 COMMODORE
2.20 MCFABULOUS (NB)
2.55 IMPERIAL AURA
3.30 MISTY WHISKY
3.57 FRANSHAM
CHELMSFORD
1.29 EL HOMBRE
2.04 SIR HECTOR
2.34 REVOLUTIONISE
3.04 ASAD
3.40 CHARLIE ARTHUR
4.10 SUPERCONTANGO
4.45 AT YOUR SERVICE
5.15 CARRYONREGARDLESS
5.45 JOYFILLY
DOUBLE: SPRINGFIELD FOX and MCFABULOUS
