Sona Sasta has staying power

RACING:

THE Coral Welsh National is not a race for the faint-hearted.

Run over almost three and three quarter miles on an undulating Chepstow track which invariably resembles a bog, the contest demands an abundance of stamina.

Course form is a huge help, too, so in looking at the ante-post prices for next Thursday’s renewal, I have focused on those with recent form there.

But let’s start with last year’s race, which saw winner Le Beau Bai and runner-up Giles Cross dominate from a long way out.

Both are intended runners again and conditions are likely to be almost identical to those of 12 months ago.

Of the pair, Le Beau Bai boasts recent form, having won a handicap hurdle at Ffos Las last month.

Conditions were bad that day and he is likely to encounter something similar next week. He must go well again, although 8-1 ante-post hardly sets the pulse racing.

Giles Cross hasn’t run since coming a cropper in the Grand National, so he is swerved at 14-1 and a bigger threat could come from favourite Teaforthree, who ran well to be sixth to Bobs Worth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

This horse has winning form on heavy ground at Chepstow and showed plenty of staying power to win the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

His credentials are there for all to see, but two things sway me from selecting him – his price (5-1) and the abysmal record of horses which run in the Welsh National after taking part in the Hennessy.

Michel Le Bon is fancied by many at 10-1, but all this horse’s best form has come on flat tracks and decent ground. He won’t get either next week.

That brings me to my suggestion, Sona Sasta.

On last season’s form with Le Beau Bai, he is much the better at the weights and he won at Chepstow on heavy ground less than a fortnight ago.

He will need one or two higher in the weights to come out, but that should happen and at 14-1, he looks a strong contender for trainer David Pipe, who reckons his horse has limitless stamina.

With the slight worry over being ballotted out, this is not a mortgage job, but the hitch is factored into his price and I have no doubt Sona Sasta’s price will come tumbling down once he is given the green light.

RECOMMENDATION: Sona Sasta, each way, 14-1 (Boylesports and Ladbrokes).