Lucinda Russell’s William Hill blog: Plenty of chances at Kelso & Aintree

Kelso, Saturday

I’m looking forward to running Cadell in the novices’ hurdle (11.55am). He’s a very nice type, who will certainly stay further in time. I was thrilled with his performance last time and I’d like to think he can run really well here before we step him up in grade next time. He’s a very laid back horse and I think there’s loads more to come.

We bought Monochromix (1.05pm) as a store horse and we’d usually have sent him over fences by now, but he’s just a bit inexperienced mentally so we’re going to stay over hurdles for another couple of runs. He’s probably off quite a good mark and we’ve had this race in mind for a while, so we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on. He’s typical of plenty of our horses, though, in that we’ll really see the best of him over the bigger obstacles.

I do, however, think he’s got the ability to win a handicap hurdle.

De Legislator (2.15pm) could be nicely handicapped. He loves heavy ground so hopefully it’s soft enough for him to take his chance. I’m quite hopeful there’s a lot of improvement to come and he could be one of our most improved horses this season. By this time next year, I’d like to think he’ll be rated a fair amount higher than he currently is and starting over fences. He’s certainly one to keep an eye on.

Aintree, Saturday

Giovinco takes his chance in the novices’ limited handicap chase (1.00pm). He unseated the rider on his first start over fences at Carlisle, but I thought he had jumped really well before that and it was just when he hit the front it was a bit too much for him. The size of the field in this race isn’t ideal as we’d like him to be covered up a bit, but we’ll take our time with him and hopefully Stephen [Mulqueen] will produce him at the right time.

I believe he’s one of the best jumpers we have in the yard, but when they make a mistake you always start to wonder if you’re right. I’m confident I am, and I’d just like to see a nice round of jumping and get his chasing career back on track.

This is probably the most competitive race that Netywell (2.10pm) has faced, but he just loves heavy ground so we thought we’d take our chance. We had other options in what were, on paper at least, easier contests, but the conditions of this race look perfect for him.

Based on that, I wouldn’t put anyone off an each-way bet on him as I’d imagine he’ll be a nice price.

Of the three we run in the bumper (3.50pm), the pick of them is probably I Wish You. We’ve had him since he was a two-year-old and this sort of race should be tailormade for him. I like him and I think he’ll be one who is well worth following.

Ahoy Senor 

We’re absolutely on course for Newbury and the Coral Gold Cup with Ahoy Senor. He’s come out of the race last weekend really well and it’s all systems go. He jumped really well before just getting tired, and Derek [Fox], who knows him so well, was thrilled with him.

I saw his price has drifted for the Gold Cup, which I thought was a touch unfair, and don’t forget the only time he’s run at Newbury he won by 31 lengths, so we know he loves the track.