Kim Bailey expects to have a clearer idea of the path Chianti Classico will follow for the rest of this season after attending the special event at Cheltenham on Friday.
A Cheltenham Festival winner in last season's Ultima Handicap Chase, the seven-year-old looked to be on the mend again when he made a successful comeback in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot in the Samhain
Chianti Classico was due to tackle the Grand National fences for the first time in last weekend's Becher Chase, but with the Aintree run abandoned due to strong winds, it has been switched to Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase at Prestbury Park.
“It's been really frustrating. The whole plan was to go to Aintree last weekend, so it's a fall back situation, but it's going to go away favorite for a decent race,” said Bailey Sky Sports Racing on Wednesday.
“Ciaran (Gethings) schooled him this morning. He's never sat on a horse before today and he'll get on very well I'm sure.”
Bailey considers Chianti Classico a serious Grand National contender at this stage, but is not beyond the possibility that he could still enter the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture if he can improve his revised mark. of 157 to win.
Bass celebrates Ultima Chianti Classico victory at Cheltenham
“We'd rather hope he had a chance to go to Aintree last weekend to see if he handled the track. It's good to see how he handled it,” he said. .
“I said after he won at Cheltenham that he's a good horse for the Grand National and I still believe he is. The problem is if he wins on Friday he's going to go back up the barrier again. He has been carrying the 12th and not the biggest horse in the world.
“He has another 8lb or 9lbs to go before he becomes a Grade One horse, so we will learn a lot on Friday. If he is beaten on Friday then the Grand National will be his main target, if he happens to go win. we can start thinking about other days.
“You've got the Denman Chase and the Cotswold Chase. It's a big day for him on Friday.”
Doncaster going out on cards for Who knows
It promises to be a big weekend for the Andoversford handler, with steady supporter Does He Know heading north to contest the bet365 Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.
The nine-year-old twice finished fourth at Cheltenham in the autumn and Bailey is looking forward to getting him back on track where he won the Grimthorpe Chase last season.
Trainer Kim Bailey is having a big week coming up with his sightseers
He said: “Does he know he's in a good place? Ciaran Gethings rode him this morning and he learned and everything went well, so he's on the road for Saturday.
“He's a really old-fashioned shooter because he seems to be getting better as he gets older. His two runs this season have been very good – he did nothing wrong.
“Last time maybe he didn't quite get the trip. I know he got three and a quarter miles before at Cheltenham, but that was on very fast ground and probably not the greatest race in the world.
“He's extremely flexible (ground-wise). He's not the biggest guy and he's a weirdo, but he's got so much talent.
“I'm really happy with him and he's been a real gem for us.”
Ascot feature on Trelawne's agenda
Bailey gave an update on plans for Trelawne, who defeated top class Iroko on his season debut at Haydock last month.
“He worked this morning, I was very happy with him and if the ground is soft enough he might go to Ascot (Silver Cup) next week,” said the trainer.
Trelawne, ridden by jockey Tom Bellamy, on course to win the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase at Haydock
“The Welsh Grand National is a big step up – he hasn't been three miles over fences yet. To go where he was the other day over two fives would be nice I would like to go three miles next time if I can do it, which probably means that the Welsh National (three miles and five furlongs) is going to be a difficult choice.
“I'm a bit worried that if we have a dry forecast the ground might be a bit too fast for him at Ascot, so we might have to reorient and see where we are.”
