Many Clouds Chase Guide

Santini is said to be spot on for his return at Aintree in the Many Clouds Chase after Henderson pulled him out of the Betfair Chase a few weeks back and the rider believes he has come on massively for his Newbury Gallop.

The staying star for the yard always comes on a fair bit for his seasonal debut, but we think he will be bang on it this term having had a successful race gallop at Newbury.

Although winning on debut last term at Kempton, he was much better next time out after undergoing a wind op which saw him race on trials day in the Cotswolds Chase and he put in a mighty performance to beat Bristol De Mai over what was nearly the Gold Cup trip.

He then headed to the festival for the Cheltenham feature and although rallying in the final stages, had to settle for a narrow second behind dual winner Al Boum Photo.

He will again be heading for the Gold Cup this term and the Many Clouds looks a great starting point for the gelding.

Native River started his season off at Aintree in the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase and went on to take the contest by over 50 lengths, with the field including Might Bite and Black Corton.

Now slightly older Tizzard had to be more patient with him and he was given some time after the race and reappeared at Newbury in the Denman Chase which he won by four lengths for the third time in his career.

That was a perfect prep run ahead of the festival with the ground being much quicker than he usually liked but he did what he always does best and stayed better than the rest of the field.

However, he did not end up running in the Gold Cup and has not been seen since February and now becoming a veteran in the sport this could be his last season at his best.

Frodon has been a superstar of for the 11 time champion trainer Paul Nicholls winning some huge races including the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and the Ryanair Chase at the 2019 Cheltenham festival.

He seems to produce his best runs at Cheltenham during his career, but having won at Aintree in his career and making a superb seasonal debut he is firmly in the mix here.

Stepped up to 3 miles 1 furlong in October the gelding landed the competitive Handicap Chase off top weight at Prestbury Park.

He produced a superb round off jumping giving weight away to the whole field and although stepping up massively in class for this event he deserves it for that performance.

Lake View Lad is one of the outsiders of the field and although he should be outclassed making his seasonal debut in this company he does stay all day.

The 10 year old gelding has seen it all during his career, being aimed at Grand National's over the years and it looks to be his target again.

It would be a big shock to see him go close against some of these proven runners at this level and in the future he probably wants even more of a stamina test.

The final runner of the event is the Warren Greatrex trained Keeper Hill who last seen being trounced in tough conditions in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

The gelding has been fairly consistent for the yard but in much lesser events than this, last winning at Haydock over a year ago in a handicap event.

He finished second behind Frodon in a Grade Two at Kempton and was then outclassed when sent back over hurdles at Musselburgh.

He made his seasonal debut this term in the Charlie Hall Chase and although finishing a fair fourth of 10 runners, he was a long way behind the front three runners and that was the same fortune for him in the Betfair Chase.

Opposable.