Lucinda Russell is keeping her fingers crossed Apple Away can take full advantage of what she describes as ‘quite a nice racing weight’ in the Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday (15th February), Oddschecker Grand National Trial Day.

The Grade 1-winning mare will bid to give the Kinross handler a fourth success in the £100,000 Premier Handicap, which she has previously claimed with Silver By Nature in 2010 and 2011 and Lie Forrit in 2015.

Although signing off last season with a Listed success at Perth this campaign has seen Apple Away, who is owned by Old Gold Racing 14, fail to get her head in front in three starts.

After finishing fourth on her comeback in a handicap chase Kelso the daughter of Arctic Cosmos has subsequently filled the runner-up spot back up at Listed level in the Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen and the Charlie Nugent Memorial Mares’ Chase at Newbury.

But with the presence of dual Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille heading the weights in the extended three and a half miles test, it means that Apple Away is the last horse to be in the handicap proper on 10st 2lb, something which Russell expects to be in her favour.

In good form

Russell said: “Apple Away is in good form and I think she has quite a nice racing weight for the race. The trip will suit her and she jumped well around there as a novice hurdler.

“She is a funny thing and we have to be very careful with her as she has got her own emotions and feelings about things. She certainly seems better suited to smaller fields, but hopefully as she gets older she will get the hang of it in those big field handicaps.

“She is pretty versatile and will go on anything, but she is probably better on good to soft ground. She is a very high-class mare and I would say she has each-way chance here.”

Despite Apple Away holding an entry in the Randox Grand National, which she is currently number 75 on the list for, Russell admits a trip to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National, opposed to an outing at Aintree, will be her end of season target.

Russell added: “Apple Away is in the Grand National, but she is unlikely to get in that as she is way down on the list, so her main aim is the Scottish Grand National.

“Quite often those second season chasers run well in the Scottish Grand National and it is a race we have had on the agenda this season for her.”

Fond memories

Although it has been 10 years since Russell celebrated the last of her three winners in the race she still has fond memories of those successes.

Russell added “This has been an amazing race for us as we have won it three times in the past. Silver By Nature won it twice and he was a fantastic horse in those types of staying races in heavy ground.

“Lie Forrit was a cracking little horse and he would love running around there with conditions as they should be at the weekend."

Elsewhere on the card Russell is excited about the chances of Derryhassen Paddy, who will try and secure his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival by taking a step up to Grade 2 company in his stride in the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old has looked impressive in both of his previous two hurdle starts to date at Uttoxeter and last time out when rallying well late on at Windsor on his first attempt over three miles.

And Russell, who saddled Brindisi Breeze to win both this race and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival in 2012, hopes the progressive Arctic Cosmos gelding, who she jointly owns, can complete the same double.

Classy

Russell said: “He is a fantastic horse and I can’t begin to tell you how many superlatives there are to describe him. He has got a lot of class, but I wouldn’t run him if the ground wasn’t soft enough.

“He really knuckled down to it at Windsor, but I would say the track swinging right and left as it does wasn’t really for him. He is an exciting horse that is definitely as good a novice as we have had.

“Brindisi Breeze was a light framed horse whereas this one is very much a big chasing type. If all goes well here then the plan after this would be to go to the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.”

And there will be a sprinkling of star quality in the concluding Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase with Grade 1 winner My Drogo featuring in the eight-runner field.

Since striking gold at the top level in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in 2021 the son of Milan has been restricted to just four racecourse appearances under Rules.

However, following a recent spell point-to-pointing since joining Ed William Walker from Dan Skelton the Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes-owned-gelding has found a new lease of life.

Foxhunters' tilt

And Walker’s wife, and fellow trainer, Polly Gundry, is looking forward to testing the lightly raced 10-year-old in the two miles and six furlongs event, which if goes to plan could set up a tilt in the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in April.

Gundry said: “He has just found his way again with point-to-pointing as they just go that gear slower and it really suits him. He is in good form and we would not be going all that way if we didn’t think he was. We are very much looking forward to this.

“He had a leg injury and it took him a long time to get him back. The Skelton team were very careful with him then last year he wasn’t quite right.

“He is such a sweet horse and he is very gentle, but he is madly ambitious. In Will Biddick we have one of the best in the business on board so hopefully he will go well. I think we feel that he might be one for the Foxhunters' at Aintree as the trip and flat track will suit him better.

“Although he gets three miles, that extra quarter of a mile at Cheltenham would be a bit too much for him, especially if it was soft, but we will just take it one race at a time."

Current Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

12:55pm Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) 3m 58y

1 Supremely West (IRE) bl 7 12 0 Fifty shades ovhay partnership Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Charlie Hammond

2 Minella Sixo (IRE) 6 12 0 Sierra Pacific & Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland Jordan Gainford

3 Uncle Bert 8 11 13 James & Jean Potter Ltd Nigel Twiston-Davies James Turner (5)

4 My Trump Card (IRE) p 7 11 11 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Carl Millar (5)

5 Jipcot (FR) ts 6 11 8 The Megsons Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill Kielan Woods

6 Gale Mahler (IRE) p 6 11 4 Mr J. Fyffe Adrian Keatley Henry Brooke

7 Doddiethegreat (IRE) p 9 11 3 Mr K. Alexander Nicky Henderson Brian Hughes

8 One Big Bang (IRE) 7 11 3 Big Bang Racing James Owen Jamie Brace (5)

9 Nab Wood (IRE) 8 11 1 Mr Edward J. Ware Nicky Richards Sean Quinlan

10 My Bobby Dazzler 10 11 0 Mr Bob Barrett Mel Rowley Toby Wynne (3)

11 Bingoo 9 10 13 Kevin & Anne Glastonbury and Neil Bibby James Moffatt Charlotte Jones

12 Kilbarry Hill ts 7 10 12 Mrs Samantha Dunn Olly Murphy Sean Bowen

13 Chasingouttheblues (IRE) 6 10 9 CW Racing Club & URSA Major Racing Ltd Mark Walford Jamie Hamilton

14 I Am Max (IRE) 7 10 9 Mr M. Scott Sandy Thomson Ryan Mania

1:28pm Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (Go North Grey Bomber Series Qualifier) 1m 7f 144y

1 Gibbs Island 4 11 5 RaceShare - Gibbs Island Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard

2 Lavender Hill Mob 4 11 5 The Gredley Family James Owen Sean Bowen

3 Marche d'Aligre (FR) 4 11 5 Billam Roe Swindell Wilson & the Molds Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan

4 Give It To Me Oj 4 11 0 Mr Omar Jackson Gary & Josh Moore Caoilin Quinn

5 Sophie Power (FR) h,ts 4 10 7 Matt FitzGerald and The Songsters Harriet Dickin Ben Poste

2:05pm Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase (Series Qualifier) 2m 3f 203y

1 Nocte Volatus ts 10 11 12 Lady Cobham and Dauntsey Park Tom Lacey Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell (7)

2 The Edgar Wallace (IRE) ts, p 10 11 9 Mr P. J. Andrews Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls Tom Bellamy

3 The Flier Begley (IRE) 10 11 7 Mr J. M. Tomlinson Gary Hanmer Jack Hogan (3)

4 Dubai Days (IRE) h,ts 11 11 6 Alexander, McGarrity, Morris & Parker N. W. Alexander Bruce Lynn

5 Eaton Collina (IRE) 10 11 4 Mrs H. Watson Kerry Lee Liam Harrison

6 Whistleinthedark (IRE) p 10 11 2 The Welly Wobblers Club L J Morgan Harry Reed

2:40pm WKD Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m 58y

1 Botox Has (FR) bl 9 11 8 John and Yvonne Stone Gary & Josh Moore Caoilin Quinn

2 Nemean Lion (GER) 8 11 8 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee Richard Patrick

3 Gwennie May Boy (IRE) 7 11 6 Ms Gwendoline M Clarke Dan Skelton Charlie Todd

4 Kerryhill (IRE) 7 11 5 They Are Never at Home Partnership Ruth Jefferson Kielan Woods

5 Sounds Russian (IRE) 10 11 4 Claxby & Co Ruth Jefferson Brian Hughes

6 Beauport (IRE) 9 11 2 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Bellamy

7 Indiana Dream (FR) ts 7 11 2 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill Richie McLernon

8 Thunder Rock (IRE) 9 11 2 McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Olly Murphy Sean Bowen

3:15pm Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 4f 97y

1 Royale Pagaille (FR) 11 12 0 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams Sean Bowen

2 Fontaine Collonges (FR) 10 10 11 Mr P. Davies Venetia Williams Ned Fox (3)

3 Yeah Man (IRE) p 8 10 8 John J. Brennan/Martin Hannan Gavin Cromwell Ireland Sean Flanagan

4 Galia des Liteaux (FR) p 9 10 4 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell (3)

5 Apple Away (IRE) 8 10 2 Old Gold Racing 14 Lucinda Russell Derek Fox

6 Famous Bridge (IRE) p 9 10 2 Hemmings Racing Nicky Richards Sean Quinlan

7 Where It All Began (IRE) bl 9 10 2 McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Bryceland Gordon Elliott Ireland Jordan Gainford

8 Git Maker (FR) 9 10 2 Sheep As A Lamb Syndicate Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan

9 Val Dancer (IRE) p 8 10 2 The Val Dancers Mel Rowley Charlie Hammond

10 Jubilee Express (FR) p 8 10 2 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas Dylan Johnston (3)

3:50pm Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m 58y

1 Derryhassen Paddy (IRE) ts 6 11 5 Morrison-Bell & Russell Lucinda Russell Derek Fox

2 Battle Born Lad 6 11 2 J Saxby, M Simmons & G Yalbur Mark Walford Jamie Hamilton

3 Bright Legend (IRE) 5 11 2 J. Carthy/Patrick John O'Brien Denis G. Hogan Ireland Daniel King

4 Gold Cup Bailly (FR) ts 9 11 2 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede S. R. B. Crawford Northern Ireland Sean Flanagan

5 Grand Geste (IRE) 6 11 2 Mrs S. Smith Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith Peter Kavanagh

6 Joecooker (FR) 6 11 2 Mrs A. Dawson Rebecca Menzies Danny McMenamin

7 Kepler's Law 6 11 2 Mr Alan Rogers L J Morgan Brian Hughes

8 Moon Rocket (IRE) 5 11 2 Youneverknow Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls Tom Bellamy

9 Roaring Conquest (IRE) 6 11 2 Gary Allsopp & Mark James Olly Murphy Sean Bowen

4:25pm Walrus Open Hunters' Chase 2m 6f 54y

1 Famous Clermont (FR) ts 10 12 4 Biddiscombe, Rogers & Barber C. R. Barber Mr James King

2 Gracchus de Balme (FR) 9 12 4 Mr D. A. Malam J. J. O'Shea Mr Huw Edwards (5)

3 Hollow Games (IRE) bl,ts 9 12 4 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Josh Williamson (3)

4 Jet Plane (IRE) ts 9 12 4 Norman Lake & Susan Carsberg Dan Skelton Miss Heidi Palin (3)

5 Take All (IRE) h,ts 10 12 4 Mrs Martine Scott M. Osborne Mr Samuel Scott (7)

6 Irascible (FR) ts, p 10 11 12 Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell (7)

7 My Drogo 10 11 12 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Edward William Walker Mr William Biddick

8 Torngat (FR) 9 11 12 Mr T. Greenwood T. Greenwood Mr Thomas Greenwood (7)