On this week's What A Shout, host Dave Orton was joined by the Racing Post's Keith Melrose, handicapper Matt Gardner and bet365's Pat Cooney, as they reviewed the opening three days of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and previewed the racing from Kempton and Uttoxeter this weekend.
We've picked out some highlights from this week's edition of What A Shout in association with bet365.
Iwilldoit to land Midlands Grand National predicts Melrose
The Midlands Grand National is the feature race on Saturday at Uttoxeter at 3.00pm and takes place over the marathon distance of 4m2f. Melrose is a big fan of 11/2 Iwilldoit, and he is taking Sam Thomas' runner to carry top weight to success.
He said: "This horse reminds me a little bit of One For Arthur. Every time One For Arthur won a race in his Grand National winning season, everybody kept saying, he cannot keep defying the rise in the ratings, but he did.
"Iwilldoit just loves bouncing out and getting into a nice rhythm. He didn't see a rival at Warwick last time out. Mr Incredible finished second and he came home third in the Kim Muir. It was a massive performance and there is nothing wrong with the form of the race.
"I am gutted he is not in the Grand National, as I think that race would be perfect for him. I don't think the Midlands Grand National is a deep race this year, so I am taking Iwilldoit to bag another success from top weight."
Gardner thinks conditions and trip will suit Yorksea at Kempton
The team previewed the handicap hurdle at Kempton at 2.05pm where Yorksea is the 7/2 favourite to prevail for trainer Gary Moore.
They were all in agreement that the market leader was the one to beat and Gardner expects him to come on from his run in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month.
He said: "I like Yorksea in this race. The ground in the Betfair Hurdle last time was slick. He is going up in trip now and is back on ground which will suit him.
"Gary Moore is in snakingly good form this month. He has had seven winners and another 12 which have been second or third. They are all in great form and he can add to his account here."
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Melrose believes Williams has found the right race for Lord Snootie
Uttoxeter host a handicap hurdle over their extended 2m7f trip at 2.25pm on Saturday.
The panel had to check twice that this was not a handicap chase, as many of these runners have been running over fences recently.
Melrose was very impressed with the way 7/2 Lord Snootie won at Warwick last time out. He is also a big fan of his trainer Christian Williams, who often finds the best possible race for his runners based on prize money.
He said: "I have been looking for unexposed hurdlers in this field that will handle the conditions at Uttoxeter, as it is going to be tough up there. Christian Williams is very good at finding the races that pay the best for his horses, and I think he has done that here with Lord Snootie.
"This horse was getting stronger as the race progressed at Warwick last time. There is a big long straight at Uttoxeter and the ground will be testing. All those things are going to suit this horse."
Gardner makes a case for the two Jonjo O'Neill runners in the field, particularly Collectors Item, who is the 9/2 favourite to prevail.
He said: "I would just side with Collectors Item, as I think Lord Snootie has had his chance in a handicap, so his mark is about right now. This will be Collectors Item's handicap debut so he could be off a lenient mark.
"I would give a shout to Flight Deck who has two ways of running. There are no doubts about his stamina, and if this is a good day for him, he could run well here."
Brave Seasca may be a cut above his rivals
The handicap chase over 2m4½f at 2.40pm at Kempton on Saturday is a competitive contest. Complete Unknown heads the market 10/3.
He is a favourite that Melrose is happy to take on, and he will be doing so with 9/1 Brave Seasca, the horse at the top of the weight.
He said: "Brave Seasca is a Venetia Williams runner that looked so good on his reappearance at Aintree. He could have run well in graded races with that performance.
"He has then run poorly at Cheltenham, including on Trials Day there. If you can forgive those runs, and he bounces back, he is a cut above these horses.
"The ground is a bit better for him. I am happy to take Complete Unknown on over this distance and at the prices, Brave Seasca is the one for me."
