/ Timeform / 07 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
The Grand National is just over a month away
"That Ballabriggs hasn’t eased much for the National reflects the idea that there were positives to be drawn from his performance, jumping with typical aplomb and only nailed close home."
Timeform review Saturday's main action at Doncaster, Newbury and Kelso...
One of the more valuable races run last weekend was the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, which was won by the Jon Wade-trained Always Right. Always Right is improving fast and reportedly has the Scottish National on his agenda now, though the way he travels casts some doubt as to the suitability of the extra three quarters of a mile he would encounter at Ayr. Of those in behind, one of the more eyecatching efforts was that of the third home Character Building, who ran a pretty encouraging Grand National trial, jumping well and rallying late. He may not feature among the best-treated Nationals entries, but he took to the fences pretty well last year and has had a smoother preparation this time around, so the current price available about him [48.0] is arguably a touch on the big side.
Perhaps the other most notable performance at Doncaster on Saturday was that of Montbazon, who won the valuable bumper on the card in impressive fashion, producing a level of form not far removed from what is normally required to have a say in one of the big Festival bumpers. Aintree rather than Cheltenham is reportedly going to be Montbazon's next port of call according to Alan King.
Down at Newbury the feature was the Greatwood Gold Cup, which went the way of Charlie Mann's progressive handicap chaser Fine Parchment. Fine Parchment holds an entry for next week's Festival Plate at Cheltenham, but the Topham at Aintree is said to be his preferred target. Aintree is also on the agenda for Big Fella Thanks and Niche Market, both of whom shaped with some degree of promise with a view to the Grand National. The two of them feature prominently in the market for that race at around the [18.0] mark.
Another horse who is towards the head of the Grand National market is Ballabriggs, who is a [17.0] shot for the race despite meeting with defeat reverting to fences for the first time this season in Saturday's Premier Chase at Kelso. That Ballabriggs hasn't eased much for the National reflects the idea that there were positives to be drawn from his performance, jumping with typical aplomb and only nailed close home. The winner, Skippers Brig is quite lightly raced for one of his age, but he has an impressive strike rate and will be a player for big staying handicaps this spring.
Timeform review Saturday's main action at Doncaster, Newbury and Kelso......
Timeform look ahead to the weekend's action at Doncaster, Kelso and Newbury......
Timeform takes a look back at the best action from the weekend, where ever-softening conditions gave us some astonishing performances....
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