'She has quite a bit in common with last year's winner' - quotes and analysis for Sandown's London National

This is the most competitive day of the year for staying handicap chases and the London National is often the one left hungriest.

Fortescue would have been a particularly interesting runner before being declared a non-runner on Saturday morning. Chepstow's downhill straight rarely gives much of a chance to horses like him who take plenty of stoking up. 

Fontaine Collonges is more interesting. She shapes like a stayer and has quite a bit in common with last year's winning stablemate Quick Wave, who took this convincingly on her first run of the season. Fontaine Collonges is only 1lb higher than for her more recent win, just over a year ago, and Ned Fox takes off another 5lb.

Final mention goes to Certainly Red. He may be filed as a Wincanton expert but his spate of wins last season included one here in January. Right-handed tracks that reward bold jumping evidently suit. He is a player if able to recreate last season's magic, which his return in last month's Badger Beer hinted at, albeit only mildly.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant trainer of Beauport
He was in need of his comeback run when things didn't drop right and we think this race was made for him. He should enjoy the ground and the trip.

Lydia Richards, trainer of Certainly Red
He was staying on well up the hill at the end of the bet365 Gold Cup last season, which gives us hope over this sort of trip. Hopefully they don't get any more rain as he doesn't want it heavy.

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Coeur Serein
Bad ground wouldn't help him. He's a grand old lad but we'll take our chance and have a bit of fun with him.
Reporting by David Milnes

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