Richard Lee's mudlark Le Beau Bai, third in the 2009 Welsh Grand National behind Dream Alliance and a lively outsider for this year's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9, looks set to tackle Haydock's big three-and-a-half mile handicap chase in mid-February, as long as conditions are testing, writes Elliot Slater.
Lee's eight-year-old finished third in the race last year when it was known as the Blue Square Gold Cup. This year, under the banner of the Totesport.com Grand National Trial, hopes are high that Le Beau Bai can go two places better. The Cadoudal gelding was sent off 5/1 favourite for last year's renewal, but after moving into third place on the home turn was unable to go with the leaders and could not improve his position, eventually trailing in 20-lengths behind Scottish raider Silver By Nature.
In four outings so far this time Le Beau Bai has run his best races on heavy ground so connections are once again hoping that the ground will be as testing as it can be without being unraceable. If the underfoot conditions are any better than 'soft' then Lee's stayer would be an unlikely runner and anyone keeping an eye on the Grand National odds should remember this.
Looking further ahead to the Grand National, Lee confirmed that much the same rules apply. His dream is to encounter conditions similar to those that saw Red Marauder beat Smarty in the mud bath that was the 2001 renewal. Most years the ground is closer to 'good' at Aintree so the chances are that in all probability Lee will end up disappointed and look instead to something like the Midlands Grand National where soft ground is a regular occurrence.
Le Beau Bai ranges in price from as short as 40/1 to as big as 80/1 for the Aintree marathon.
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