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Finian’s Rainbow Odds-On for Maghull Novices’ Chase
09/04/11

Eight of the last 10 winners of the John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase had contested the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival a month earlier; six were beaten in the Grade 1 event before coming to Aintree and collecting, so the omens are good for Finian’s Rainbow, who found only Captain Chris too strong at Prestbury Park on March 15.

Starluck
© Grossick Racing Photography

The eight-year-old deserves to be a hot favourite for this afternoon’s race, and ought to confirm the placings with the two horses that were behind him at Cheltenham – Ghizao (fifth) and Dan Breen (seventh) – and re-oppose today. However, I feel it’s worth taking a chance on STARLUCK, who is too big a price at 13-2 with Sportingbet.

Admittedly, the six-year-old will need to jump with far more fluency than he did when turned over at Sandown last time. Indeed, it was disappointing to see Alan Fleming’s stable star beaten at odds of 2-5. But, with the exception of a slightly deliberate jump at the first on his chasing bow at Huntingdon previously, he jumped pretty well, and he’s well worth backing here.

For all that his Sandown display left much to be desired, the Railway Fences at that Surrey venue are tough obstacles for one so inexperienced to negotiate, plus that track is stiffer than ideal for Starluck. Aintree is a flat, sharp track, which will suit the selection to a tee and, if his jumping holds up this time, his potent turn of foot could prove decisive in a race which looks sure to be run at a furious pace.

Ghizao would have finished closer to Finian’s Rainbow but for a bad blunder at the fourth-last in the Arkle, while Dan Breen, who capitulated after hitting the ninth fence at Cheltenham, is another that will appreciate this sharp track. The latter could be a danger at a double-figure price round here, but I’m willing to take a chance on Starluck, as he undoubtedly possesses the class to bag this prize.

Recommendation: Starluck