Wally’s Wagers: American star’s grand slam

American Pharoah cemented is place in racing history with a scintillating performance in the Breeders Cup on Saturday evening.
Wally's Wagers with Darren WaltersWally's Wagers with Darren Walters
Wally's Wagers with Darren Walters

The Yankee wonder horse will go down as the greatest racehorse in history.

Having completed the triple crown, the first in 37 years, the grand slam was an achievement few believed possible.

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This monster three-year-old attracts 20,000 fans to watch him train and the world watched in awe as he destroyed his rivals with ease to win the five million dollar purse.

The Bob Baffert-trained colt will now retire to stud with an overall rating of 138 which rates him the best horse in American history.

Opinions are varied but my opinion is that he’d have surpassed Frankel’s rating of 143 if he trained on as a four-year-old as Frankel did.

The jump season is slowly warming up, with all trainers eyeing Cheltenham Festival.

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Willie Mullins will have a major say in the outcome of the big races.

The Irish trainer has a wealth of exceptional horses in his stable such as Faugheen, Douvan, and Vautour who all won impressively at the festival last March. Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson will again have a strong hand in trying to stop the dominance from the Irish raiders.

The beauty about the jumps is that your favourite horses from last year will more than likely be here this year. Even the smaller yards have top class hurdlers and chasers for instance Mark Bradstock, who trains Gold Cup hero Coneygree.

Looking ahead to this Saturday, I do like the chances of Yorkist in the 3.40 at Aintree.

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He rallied well to grab second when last seen in a class one, now dropping down in grade he could prove value for punters.

Wincanton probably has the better card out of the two and I’ve a few fancies that I feel have a good chance.

The 2.05 Badger Ales Trophy is a handicap chase over three miles.

Carole’s Destrier ran some fine races last season, and although I feel he will improve after this run he could still have enough to make a winning debut to the season.

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He’s a very good jumper from the front, who should be versatile to any ground.

Connections of Sign Of A Victory were disappointed that he could only manage fourth place to Nabucco last weekend, but I think that that run will set him up perfectly for this race.

I’d be surprised if he was not to go close in a competitive race.

Wally’s Tips

Aintree 3.40 Yorkist.

Wincanton 2.05 Carole’s Destrier, 3.15 Sign Of A Victory.