Pattern Race Review: National Clues at Newbury?
It was pretty quiet on the pattern front last weekend, but an impressive win in Kelso’s biggest race for Bygones Of Brid merely served to underline the claims of Tell Massini at next week’s Festival. Meanwhile, there was a shake-up in the Grand National betting after Newbury’s feature. ” Big Fella Thanks needs to show a bit more mettle if he’s to win a National, but perhaps the key lies in whether Paul Nicholls can retain the services of the excellent Barry Geraghty, who seemed to establish an immediate rapport with the son of Primitive Rising.” I’ve been very keen on Tell Massini since seeing him rout Reve De Sivola in the mud at the Paddy Power meeting and was delighted that one of his victims at the December meeting, Bygones Of Brid , has done so well since and that horse, in the colours of James Callow, capped a fine campaign for trainer Karen McLintock by winning the totepool Premier Kelso Hurdle in fine style on Saturday. Probably a non stayer when racing at three miles, he nonetheless paid a compliment to Tom George’s Albert Bartlett favourite.
