RACING boff Gaurav Chaddah (@Gchaddahjourno) analyses shares his thoughts on the Grand Annual, the penultimate race of the Cheltenham Festival.
Grand Annual | Friday 15th March 2019, 16:50 | ITV4
Paul Nichols seems to have strong hopes for favourite Magic Saint (5/1 Ladbrokes) who he described at a preview night as one of his best chances this week. The five-year-old is unexposed and looks to have plenty of further improvement in him following his recent Wincanton success.
Top Gamble (20/1 Bet365) was third in this last year and is now six pounds lower and could run well but it looks like the 11-year-old is probably past his best now after a disappointing campaign this year, whilst Whatswrongwithyou (9/1 888) still has plenty to offer and could be a horse of interest.
Gino Trail (20/1 Bet365) runs off the same mark to when he was second last season and is still rather fresh, having only two runs prior to this. And whilst he was second to Magic Saint last time, they do meet on better terms this time and I feel will be able to get a lot closer and should at the very least be able to place again.
Last year’s winner, La Prezien (10/1 SkyBet) looks like he may have been campaigned with this race in mind again and whilst he hasn’t been in great form this season, the benefit is he must race off only a pound higher mark than last year’s success and will enjoy the soft ground and the strong gallop in store which he benefitted from last year.
Best Bets
Grand Annual – La Prezien each-way (10/1 Bet365)
Grand Annual – Gino Trail each-way (20/1 Bet365)
