The weekend just gone was a damp squib on the racing front, particularly for fans of the National Hunt action. Sandown, Wincanton, Newcastle, and Cork were all scheduled to light up our Saturday afternoon. All fell foul of frostbitten Britain and Ireland.
Whilst the thermometer is still loitering around the freezing mark, hopes are high that the jumps will return this Saturday, with the pick of the action set to come from Warwick. The Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase tops the bill from a class perspective, whilst the rerouted Veteran’s Handicap Chase adds significant interest to the eight-race card. However, the biggest betting heat of the day is the hugely popular Classic Chase.
First run as the Warwick National Chase in 1973 and under its current title since 2004, the Classic takes place over a marathon 3m5f trip, with 23 fences standing between the field and glory. Given the demands placed upon stamina and jumping ability, the event regularly attracts contenders with an eye on the Aintree Grand National. Indeed, One For Arthur won this in 2017 before his famous Aintree success for Lucinda Russell and Scotland.
It remains to be seen whether there is a One For Arthur in the 2025 lineup, but we do have several intriguing contenders among the 16 entries.
Repeat Success for Lavelle Star?
The Ted Haynes-trained Choisty is the only dual winner of this contest, having stayed on dourly to land the 2000 and 2002 editions. However, we still await our first back-to-back winner. The latest to attempt to etch their name into the history books is the Emma Lavelle-trained My Silver Lining.
Riding in a valuable chase comes with a degree of pressure at the best of times. We can only imagine that pressure intensifies if your mount happens to be owned by your mother-in-law. However, James Best coped admirably with such a scenario aboard My Silver Lining in 2024, when coming with a well-timed effort to hold off the fast-finishing Galia Des Litreaux in a thrilling renewal.
My Silver Lining is 4lb higher in the handicap this time but loves soft ground and took a step back in the right direction with an encouraging third at Hereford. With conditions in her favour, the tough mare may go close to writing her name in the history books and take James and mother-in-law, Celia Djivanovic, on a return visit to the Winner’s Enclosure.
In Form Rivals Lie in Wait
With £100,000 up for grabs, the Classic Chase invariably attracts a fiercely competitive field. In addition to the 23 obstacles, My Silver Lining must master a host of talented stayers to become the first to defend her crown. Of her 15 rivals, the following five may give her the most to worry about.
- Mr Vango – This Sara Bradstock runner topped the ante-post market for the Welsh Grand National, only to ultimately skip that assignment. Now reportedly fit and firing at home, this dour plodder is a dual winner at 3m4f+ on soft or worse going and should be well suited by this assignment
- Lady Balko – Hailing from the David Pipe operation, Lady Balko enjoyed a consistent debut season over hurdles, finishing in the first two in her final six starts to reach a rating of 115. Four starts into her chase career, she now sits on a mark of 137 and heads to Warwick seeking a four-timer. She is yet to race over quite this far, but if seeing out the distance, this improving mare is a threat to all
- Snipe – Having saddled Galia Des Liteaux to finish a gallant second in 2024, Dan Skelton bids to go one better with this son of Soldier Of Fortune. Seventh in the Haydock Grand National Trial last season, his runners-up effort to Val Dancer at Carlisle in November reads well now, with that horse going on to claim Welsh Grand National gold
- Apple Away – A rising star over hurdles, this Lucinda Russel runner rounded off her 2022/23 campaign with a win in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National Festival. She hasn’t quite hit those heights over fences, but has two placed efforts in Grade 2 company and adds to what looks like a strong race for the mares
- Bretney – Of the 16 current entries, only four have scored over this demanding distance in the past. Included in that quartet is the Henry Daly-trained 10-year-old, Bretney. At home on soft ground and successful three times at 3m5f+, he arrives on the back of a 10-length romp in the Borders National at Kelso
Will one of the above deny My Silver Lining? Will a horse lower down the betting list cause a shock? Or can the 2023 hero hold onto her crown? Tune in at 3 pm on Saturday to find out.