Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Beauport looks the One in London National

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty runs his expert eye over this weekend’s racing from Sandown, Aintree and Cork.

Sandown, Friday

On his first run back after a wind op, Insurrection (1:50pm) ran well to beat the favourite at Exeter, and they were well clear of the third. The one I’d be sweet on though is PERSONAL AMBITION, who beat Jingko Blue – a subsequent winner at Newbury last weekend – after racing keenly and showing inexperience. He should have more to come.

STAY AWAY FAY (2:25pm) was impressive on chase debut at Exeter and the third placed Grey Dawning has since franked that form with a good win at Haydock. He races a little bit behind the bridle, but I think he made his Exeter win look harder work than it was. He came up out of Harry Cobden’s hands at the last and flew the fence, so I think he still had a lot in the tank. He’s potentially one of the star staying novices of the season, and he should take a lot of beating.

Aintree, Saturday

HELTENHAM (1:30pm) won well at Wetherby on his reappearance. Some of Dan Skelton’s horses aren’t running amazingly on their first starts, but the yard seem to be hitting form now. He looks to be a horse on the up and could build on that now. Another progressive looking type is Richmond Lake who also won on his reappearance and could be the main danger.

In the Becher (2:05pm), I think COKO BEACH brings the best form. He put in a good performance last time when winning the Troytown at Navan and prior to that he was a good third in the Munster National. He pulled up at Aintree in the Grand National last year, but was eighth behind Noble Yeats the year before, so he has good experience over these fences. He has top-weight, but he does have the advantage of Danny Gilligan in the saddle, who is a very accomplished young rider, and takes off a valuable five pounds. The two dangers to my eye would be Chambard and Under Supervision, who finished second and third at Cheltenham last time.

Sandown, Saturday

WILLMOUNT (11:35am) could be a horse with potential. He’s four from four after winning his point-to-point and then two bumpers for Neil Mulholland, before winning impressively on his debut for Nicky Henderson on his debut at Newbury last month. He could be one to keep an eye on for later in the season.

It’s good that the Fighting Fifth (1:15pm) has been scheduled and gives us the chance to see CONSTITUTION HILL. He was obviously brilliant all last season and as a six-year-old is still open to further improvement. Hopefully all stays well in the Constitution Hill camp because he is probably the most exciting horse in training and is going to be very hard to beat here. Shishkin goes for this race as there is a bit of urgency for him to get a run in before the King George. He was a winner of the Supreme over this trip, but that was nearly four years ago, and I’d struggle to make a case for him dropping back to this trip in this company, as I think this trip will be too sharp for him now. Love Envoi has some excellent form, including when not beaten far by Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle. Her only other defeats have come when she’s travelled to Ireland. She’s a very good mare, and while she will struggle to beat the favourite, she looks the one to chase him home.

JPR ONE (1:50pm) unseated at the second last at Cheltenham last time when he had the race at his mercy. That was a step up on his win on his seasonal reappearance and a reproduction of that would make him the one to beat.

IMPOSE TOI (2:25pm) won nicely at Cheltenham last month on her first run of the season and I thought she could improve further. Dan Skelton’s Punta Del Este was second to Richmond Lake on reappearance, but the two were well clear of the third. That was a good run for a four-year-old and I think he’s a horse with potential to step up again.

For me, JONBON was the most impressive he’s been to date on his reappearance in the Shloer in Cheltenham. He looked to go through the race so easily and it was definitely a step up on his previous form, albeit he’s won six of his seven chase starts. He beat Edwardstone comfortably off level weights, with Nube Negra back in third, so the form stacks up really well. There’s no reason why he should be beaten here, as Edwardstone has the highest level of form of the opposition. Boothill looked to be held when benefitting from the late fall of Saint Segal at Ascot last time, so that might have shown his limitations.

I like BEAUPORT in the London National (3:35pm), after he caught my eye in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot on his reappearance. He was slightly hampered five out there, but he rallied well and was only beaten 10 lengths. He struggled to maintain his form last season after winning at Carlisle and I wonder if they are taking a different approach with him this term in trying to target a race like this. He’ll love conditions and the trip, and I think he should put up a big show in what looks an open race.

Cork, Sunday

All eyes will be on EL FABIOLO when he makes his reappearance in the Hilly Way (2:50pm) on Sunday. He beat Jonbon comfortably in the Arkle last season and is four from four over fences. However, I still feel there is improvement to come with his jumping and he’s the potential heir to the throne in this division. It’s an exciting weekend for the two-mile division with both him and Jonbon in action. He’ll be very hard to beat here, but of the opposition, Maskada gets plenty of weight and while she was disappointing on her return this season, she showed a high level of form when winning last season’s Grand Annual. She could be the main danger.