Christmas In April bids to add another National to growing list

3.15 Fontwell
Paddy Power Southern National Handicap Chase | 3m3½f | 4yo+ 0-140 | ITV/SSR

Connections of Christmas In April would probably have had this unique race around the twists and turns of Fontwell’s figure-of-eight circuit in mind since the eight-year-old showed an aptitude for the track when landing a novice handicap chase here in December last year.

Christmas In April bounded clear with a clean round of jumping and has since gone on to prove himself a force in ‘local Nationals’. He has already landed the Sussex National at Plumpton and the Devon National at Exeter. Now for the Southern version.

All his chase wins have come under Harry Cobden, who cannot ride due to commitments at Cheltenham, but connections have convinced Jonjo O’Neill Jr to make the trip south for the ride and he could have stayed local at Prestbury Park. Maybe that’s a pointer as O’Neill Jr has an 18 per cent strike-rate for the Colin Tizzard stable (£1 level-stake profit of £8.82).

That isn’t the only trainer/jockey combination that catches the eye in this race. There aren’t many better conditionals in Britain than Jack Tudor, who has all the talent of a fully fledged professional but is able to claim a 5lb allowance. He has a 20 per cent strike-rate when joining forces with Warren Greatrex and the pair team up again with Gangster.

It’s four years and two trainers ago since he was one of the Willie Mullins-trained talking horses for the Albert Bartlett won by Unowhatimeanharry and he has generally been disappointing since, but he evidently has class and last season he found his level for the first time in Britain when landing a staying handicap chase at Musselburgh in February.

That was on his favoured testing surface and the return to such conditions on a tight track like Fontwell might spark the interest of this ten-year-old, who is quirky but talented on his day.
Graeme Rodway, tipster

What they say

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer of Christmas In April
It’s his first run of the season but he’s in lovely form at home and he loves these stamina tests. Three and a half miles around Fontwell should play to his strengths and the forecast will also help his cause. He can handle real testing conditions. If he runs well, then he could have a tilt at the Welsh National with the Grand National in the back of our minds.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Cloudy Glen
It’s a step up in trip for him, so it’ll be new territory, but he’s in good order and the ground should be fine.

Gary Moore, trainer of Diable De Sivola
It’s his first run back after a wind op and his first time over this distance. A lack of a recent run will be of some concern but he’s in good order and it’s not the strongest race in the world, so I’m hoping he has every chance. He won’t mind [the forecast rain] but I will!

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Doing Fine
He’s got a bit of form around Fontwell which is good and the trip will suit him. He’s won on soft ground before but we’ll see what happens in the morning [in terms of rainfall].
Reporting by Kitty Trice

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