Rapid improver Strictlyadancer bids for four-timer in London National

Saturday: 3.00 Sandown
Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase | 3m5f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

This looks like a typically wide-open running of the London National. The last four winners have all been ridden by a jockey claiming weight, while six of the last nine carried 10st 8lb or less and three shouldered 11st 9lb or more.

The last two winners came out of the Southern National at Fontwell and Salty Boy emerged victorious in that contest 20 days ago. That was his first win over fences, and although 5lb higher now he retains potential for better.

Third in the Eider at Newcastle in February, Salty Boy is well suited to a stiff stamina test of the type he will get here. Mitchell Bastyan claims 3lb, reducing his burden to 10st 4lb, while his best Racing Post Rating over fences came at right-handed Thurles. He has plenty in his favour.

Strictlyadancer goes for a fourth win in just over six weeks for Christian Williams. Generally a sound jumper, his Haydock success a fortnight back saw him score rather snugly at the line. He needs to overcome a career-high mark for the third run on the bounce, but has claims.

Deise Aba and Larry enjoy their racing at Sandown, the former 2-2 here and the latter with a pair of wins in three visits. Larry's stamina looked to ebb away in the bet365 Gold Cup over course and distance in April, but Deise Aba has long threatened to be suited by this new trip. He makes most appeal of that pair.

Paul Nicholls has trained the winner of this twice in the last seven runnings and relies on topweight Highland Hunter this time around. Fifth in the Midlands National when last seen in action, he will not fail for lack of stamina. Deep Purple, in 2011, was the last horse to win this on a seasonal debut.
Race analysis by Matt Newman

Williams 'striking while the iron is hot'

Christian Williams admits he is at a loss as to why Strictlyadancer has managed to make rapid improvement through the ranks.

The seven-year-old bids for a rapid four-timer, having started his winning streak off a 19lb lower mark in an amateur jockeys' handicap chase at Cheltenham on October 22 before following up with wins at that track and at Haydock on Betfair Chase day, and Williams is confident the sound surface at Sandown can see Strictlyadancer continue his remarkable rise.

"We're striking while the iron is hot – when the rain comes he'll need a break then," the trainer said. "I wasn't 100 per cent happy with him last year, we were missing something with him. I don't know whether he strengthened up during the summer or if he had a little niggle that we didn't know about."

Major targets could await Strictlyadancer should he win and Williams added: "He could be a Scottish National horse with his weight sneaking up. When a horse like him improves that much we don't know where the ceiling is."

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Highland Hunter
He's got plenty of weight, but we need to get a run into him before the Welsh National, which is his main target.

David Bridgwater, trainer of Salty Boy
He won well last time, and while it's a better race this time he's got a nice low weight and hopefully we'll be in the prize-money. When you get horses from Ireland they can take a bit of time to acclimatise, and he might have even improved from last year.

Lucy Wadham, trainer of Eclair De Guye
He's been training really well and has been waiting for the ground to turn, which I don't think we'll get tomorrow. We're desperate to get him started and is in good form. The step up in trip will suit but I wish it was on slower ground.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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