Blue Square Gold Cup
17.02.2010
Saturday's £100,000 Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock looks set to be the most informative race yet about the wellbeing of a large number of potential Aintree Grand National candidates.
However, Saturday's race is the season's principal target for Richard Lee's Le Beau Bai. The horse looks set to encounter optimum conditions in Haydock's testing three-and-a-half mile event.
The pre-requisite for success for the seven-year-old is heavy ground - he can handle a better surface, but is far more effective when it is hock deep and the mud is flying.
The advance going for the Lancashire track this weekend is officially heavy, no doubt music to the ears of the Herefordshire handler. He sent his charge over hurdles at Bangor recently to protect his Grand National handicap mark, a move that resulted in victory for the French bred gelding. When last seen over fences Le Beau Bai ran a cracker to be a fine third in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. Since then the Blue Square Gold Cup has been the principal target with the going at Haydock at this time of the year invariably testing and ideal for Lee's youngster.
However, Le Beau Bai will not have things all his own way in what promises to be a tremendous race. Both Dream Alliance and Silver by Nature, first and second at Chepstow, are set to take their chances. 2009 Grand National hero Mon Mome is also set to run, along with Miko De Beauchene, The Package and the gallant mud-loving mare L'Aventure.
Richard Lee has made it clear that Le Beau Bai will not run at Aintree if - as is often the case - the ground is good or faster. He stressed that his horse is absolutely spot on for Haydock and as long as there is plenty of give in the ground he will take all the beating. At the tasty odds of 7/1, expect plenty of racing tips for this potential star.
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