NAP of the Day: Gesskille to pass Grand National test

I’ve already looked at Friday’s Cheltenham meeting here, but there’s one runner I purposely left out for he’s my NAP of the Day.

Grand National prospects are on show at Cheltenham on Friday, in the Cross Country Handicap Chase.

Former Gold Cup hero Minella Indo, whose big target for the season is the Aintree highlight, has his first spin round the idiosyncratic course – while Galvin, who’s quickly becoming a staple in the scene, returns after his pipe-opener over course and distance last month.

There’s no doubting that, even at the grand ages of nine and ten respectively, they are the best horses in this race. Not a single doubt.

However, not only do they have to lug big weights around but connections will also have one eye on their marks. Minella Indo is rated 160 and Galvin 157 – winning here will do their Grand National hopes no good…

One who does want to be winning here is Gesskille for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero.

The National is ever-changing and as a result of the minimum mark being raised, the seven-year-old’s current rating of 144 mightn’t be enough to guarantee him a run.

His trainer has said as much – and they’ve schooled him round there, so I expect him to be there to win which, as obvious as it sounds, is a huge plus in these contests.

I think a six-pound rise for his fantastic win in the Grand Sefton at Aintree, over those National fences, is more than fair and I envisage more improvement now he tackles a marathon trip.

He certainly shaped like he’ll appreciate this sort of test when he stayed on in second behind Ashtown Lad in the Becher (3m2f), again at Aintree, around this time last year.

Latenightpass is the one to beat on Friday after his solid second over C&D last month, but I think the selection is a classier type and has more improvement in him as a significantly younger and more unexposed – over a trip at least – individual.