Le Breuil bids to boost Grand National claims in Edinburgh edition

3.45 Musselburgh
bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase | 4m1f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

There will be no worries on the stamina score for Le Breuil. He shaped as though he needed five miles when rocketing home for a never-nearer third in the Classic at Warwick last time.

That is a sharp track, just like Musselburgh, but his best form is on galloping/undulating courses and he was badly outpaced at Warwick. It would be no surprise if the same happened here, but the extra half-mile might give him a chance to pull it out of the fire.

Le Breuil is without a win since the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March 2019, when he touched a high of 44 on Betfair. The value might lie with in-running backers again.

Conditional jockey Oakley Brown is back from a spell in Ireland and takes the ride on The Delray Munky. Brown has had four rides for Brian Ellison since his return to Britain without success, but is value for his claim and teams up with Iain Jardine for the first time over jumps.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Saturday's tipping and analysis:

Pricewise (part one): Tom Segal fancies big-priced Elliott runner to land Dublin Racing Festival prize (Members' Club)

Pricewise (part two): find out who Tom Segal thinks will cause an upset in the Cotswold Chase (Members' Club)

Saturday Sizzlers: 'He has his best days ahead of him' – Paul Kealy keen on Edinburgh National hope (Members' Club)

Paul Kealy's banker at Musselburgh on Saturday

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Saturday afternoon

Saturday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiples

What they say

Ben Pauling, trainer of Le Breuil
At Warwick I think he was half thinking about his wind and then realised everything was okay and ran on really well at the end. He's in fabulous form and hopefully if he can win, he'll go back up in the weights enough to get into the National. That's the race for him.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Mighty Thunder
You can put a line through his last run and he has done that to us before. He's in a different frame of mind now. If you look back to the two races he ran at Hexham and on pedigree, I'd like to think he'll stay.

Richard Newland, trainer of Classic Escape and Billy Bronco
Classic Escape had a very hard race in the Borders' National so we've given him plenty of time to get over that. Whether he's quite in the same form as then I'm not sure because he's been on the go a long time. The slightly better ground should help and I'm hopeful. Billy Bronco has a different sort of profile but is in very good form. He might be better the other way round but the trip and weight are good and he has an in-form jockey [Charlie Hammond] on board.

Iain Jardine, trainer of Dino Boy and The Delray Munky
[Dino Boy's owner] Ray Green was quite keen to go for the Edinburgh National. I don't know if the track will suit but we'll find out tomorrow. The Delray Munky handles soft and heavy and the track and trip shouldn't be any problem. I don't know which of them I'd choose to ride.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Saturday's race previews and analysis:

Destination Dublin: escape to a magical place from the comfort of your own room (Members' Club)

Bounty of top-quality racing from Sandown and Wetherby on wet weekend in Britain (Members' Club)

The Saturday Jury: 'He was very impressive on his last chase start' (Members' Club)

1.05 Leopardstown: 'He must have a big chance' – Mullins hoping Gaillard gets team off to a flyer

1.35 Leopardstown: all eyes on 'special' Chacun Pour Soi as Mullins star is set for Dublin Chase

1.50 Sandown: will Shan Blue's electric jumping be the difference in Scilly Isles Chase?

2.10 Leopardstown: the next Douvan or Un De Sceaux? Mullins puts his confidence in Energumene

2.20 Sandown: can clockwise form prove key to solving rescheduled Cotswold Chase puzzle?

3.15 Leopardstown: a perfect ten? Unbeaten Honeysuckle chases Irish Champion Hurdle glory again

3.30 Sandown: Irish import A Toi Phil adds a little dash of class to competitive handicap

3.50 Leopardstown: classy Buildmeupbuttercup chasing more riches over jumps in Ladbrokes Hurdle

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