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Saturday's best bets, by Chris Cook
It hardly seems possible, after the winter we have all endured, that any British racecourse might have 'good to firm' in the going description but so it is in places at Doncaster today. That end of the going spectrum is, in a sense, more testing for jumps racehorses because fewer of them really appreciate top of the ground but Calgary Bay (2.55) is one who seems to cope well with it and he can land the Grimthorpe Chase and stake his claim for next month's Grand National.
Now 10-years-old, Calgary Bay has an excellent record here, winning twice from three visits, his only defeat being by just a length on his chasing debut. He hacked up by seven lengths in a 12-runner handicap on his next visit and was last seen here early last year, landing the Skybet Chase, a more valuable contest than today's.
Three subsequent defeats mean that he is almost back down to the same handicap rating he had that day, but those efforts are not offputting. One, after all, was the Grand National, in which he at least completed the course, and the other two were on soft going, on which he has never won.
Tony McCoy is an interesting presence in the saddle, having not ridden Calgary Bay for almost four years. The pair won a Grade Two together in early 2009. Join Together, a Grand National contender, may just lack the pace for this, while Court By Surprise comes from a yard out of form.
2.05 Newbury
Making his handicap debut from a low mark, Bygones Sovereign wears cheekpieces for the first time and should appreciate this better surface. David Pipe's yard continues in great form.
2.20 Doncaster
A line can be put through Toubab's two runs on heavy this winter. He was running respectably when brought down in the Grand Annual and fared surprisingly well against Sprinter Sacre at Aintree.
2.40 Newbury
Thirteen may not be too old in the context of this veterans' race and Desperate Dex has had a productive winter since joining Tom George from Ferdy Murphy.
3.15 Newbury
Another who has been highly tried this season on going that was probably too soft, Princely Player has dropped half a stone in the weights since his close second at Kempton in October.
3.30 Doncaster
Approaching the veteran stage, Ogee was running on pleasingly at the end of Sam Winner's bumper in January. He has only been beaten once over hurdles since his last win, in June, likes this going and is still fairly treated.
3.50 Newbury
Paul Nicholls may sustain his record in major Saturday handicaps with The Knoxs, who looked like winning here in November when falling at the last. Garynella is a threat and can surely do better than on his debut for David Pipe last time, a Cheltenham flop on heavy going.
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