Aintree Day 1
Ben Morgan thinks Aintree will suit the King George winner
Ben Morgan chooses his horses to give you a winning start
1.45 Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 2.20 Doom Bar Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1f 2.50 Betway Bowl Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 3m 1f 3.25 Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f 4.05 Randox Health Foxhunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 2) 2m 5f 4.40 Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3) 2m 5.15 Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat (Grade 2) 2m 1f
BETWAY BOWL CHASE
Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo is an unlikely runner here but would have obvious claims if he were to turn up. The runner up, Anibale Fly, could attempt to go two better in the Grand National, but he may stand a better chance of notching a deserved success if he were to run here instead.
Brian Ellison will be hoping for a change of fortune for Definitly Red who was brought down at the Festival. This likeable horse has an abundance of ability and could go very well in a race like this. He seems to thrive around Aintree having racked up a couple of victories on Merseyside already in his career. A reduced field and some soft ground would play to his strenghts. I believe Paul Nicholls holds the key to the race however, as both Frodon and CLAN DES OBEAUX look likely runners. The former wrote one of the stories of the Festival after he provided Bryony Frost with a Grade One success, the first woman to achieve such a feat. There is no doubting his class and tenacity and should he line up here, he warrants huge respect.
The latter was my Gold Cup selection and turning in I thought I was in for a windfall. Harry Cobden was travelling comfortably on the bridle and looked to play a major part in the finish, but it soon became clear he was near empty. I wouldn’t want to mark him down as a non-stayer just yet, as he is only seven and given the improvement he has shown so far this season, I wouldn’t rule out further improvement next season. If he reverts back to this easier 3m test, I would fancy his chances as he could probably win it without coming off the bridle.
Monalee would be an interesting runner after a slightly underwhelming run in the Ryanair. I wasn’t sure about the tactics employed there and if allowed to bowl along on this flatter track, he could take some pegging back. 1) Clan Des Obeuax 2) Monalee 3) Definitly Red
MANIFESTO NOVICES CHASE
An obvious place to start here is with the JLT Novices Chase winner, DEFI DU SEUIL. Philip Hobbs charge seems to have proved himself the best novice chaser over this intermediate distance after recording a second consecutive convincing victory over Lostintranslation. I always thought he was the better of the pair as his turn of foot over this distance is deadly and he doesn’t lack for stamina either. I thought Mr Hobbs was playing it cool when asked about next year’s targets as he stated the Ryanair would be his most likely target. I think that target may change to the Champion Chase if connections of Altior decide to step
him up in trip next season. He jumped maginificently at Cheltenham and seemed to improve the faster they went, so in my eyes the Champion Chase would be his most logical target. I am, however, jumping the gun and if he lines up here, he should take all the beating.
With Lostintranslation unlikely to try his luck at 2m 4f again I suspect he will go for the Mildmay if he isn’t put away for the summer. JLT third Mengli Khan may warrant another crack at his conqueror as he may be better suited to this flatter track while unfortunate Arkle faller, Glen Forsa, should be ideally suited to this distance. Mick Channon’s horse has looked the real deal so far in his career and I wouldn’t rule him out running a big race if connections step him back up in trip.
Henry De Bromhead likes to have a runner or two on Merseyside and A Plus Tard could prove to be the joker in the pack after his mightily impressive win in the Close Brothers Handicap Chase. 1) Defi Du Seuil 2) Glen Forsa 3) A Plus Tard
ANNIVERSARY 4YO NOVICES HURDLE
The unfortunate incident involving Sir Erec put somewhat of a dampener on proceedings in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival. Eventual scorer, Pentland Hills, was an impressive winner though, given that was only his second start over hurdles. He looks a horse with a bright future but I wonder whether connections may just bide their time with him after he has had two quick runs already this term.
Triumph second and third, Coeur Sublime and Gardens Of Babylon, may re-oppose and I will be interested to see who comes out on top. Gardens Of Babylon met a lot of interference the last day but stayed on well, while Couer Sublime travelled smoothly before being outfought after the last.
Slight preference would be for GARDENS OF BABYLON as he does look the more consistent of the pair and has some strong form to his name. I suspect he may just stay a little better as well which could help him up the long Aintree straight.
Fred Winter winner, Band Of Outlaws, looked well ahead of his mark and I think he will be there or thereabouts too. He met a lot of traffic at Cheltenham but had the necessary gears to get himself out of trouble. This flat track should see him to
better effect and he rates a major danger.
I will give a mention to Chief Justice at what could be a huge price. If the ground is good I think he has the ability to run into a place after not being suited to the tacky ground at Cheltenham. 1) Gardens Of Babylon 2) Couer Sublime 3) Band Of Outlaws
AINTREE HURDLE
Providing BUVEUR D’AIR is none the worse for his unfortunate fall in the Champion Hurdle I can see him being very hard to beat here. Being a strong staying two miler, I think this intermediate trip would be right up his street and provide him with the chance to gain a deserved Spring success. Connections will already be eyeing up another tilt at the Champion Hurdle next year and a possible rematch with Espoir D’Allen. I notice the selection is 7/1 to regain his crown next year and with nothing seemingly coming through from the novice ranks, I make that a cracking bet.
Champion Hurdle fourth, Laurina, should be suited to this step up in trip but connections may still be licking their wounds after seeing their high expectations shot down in flames at the Festival. Similar comments apply to Apples Jade but I think she is only at her best in Ireland and Gordon Elliott may be better off leaving her on the Emerald Isle for now.
Faugheen and Supasundae would be interesting runners having seemingly not stayed the 3m trip in the Stayers Hurdle. Supasundae has run some nice races here before and would be the pick of the two.
Fortunate Mares Hurdle winner Roksana could step forward from that performance and force her way into the reckoning here. There is an argument that she may not have been fully fit the last day and I will be interested to see how she fares in this race. 1) Buveur D’Air 2) Roksana 3) Supasundae
FOXHUNTERS’ CHASE
I’m struggling to find a horse which could possibly stop HAZEL HILL from doubling up here. Philip Rowley’s horse was given a peach of a ride by leading amateur Alex Edwards as the pair secured their first Festival success. The selection travelled sweetly into the race and was delivered right on time to storm up the hill and win quite comfortably. He backed up an impressive Warwick win and on all known evidence, he looks streets ahead in the Foxhunter division this year.
Road To Rome was given a positive ride from Sam Waley-Cohen but failed to see out the race and trailed home fourth. Given how well Waley-Cohen rides Aintree, I can see him putting in a better performance here and perhaps getting a place or two closer to the selection.
Shantou Flyer was a good second but there is no reason as to why he should reverse the form with his Cheltenham conqueror. With that said, he has run some fine races in top company before and I wouldn’t write him off.
Jamie Codd gave Ucello Conti far too much to do at Cheltenham and although he did plug on well, he never looked like troubling the winner. With Aintree providing a sterner test of jumping, he will have to make sure his fencing is a lot slicker than it has been previously. 1) Hazel Hill 2) Road To Rome 3) Shantou Flyer
RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE
Bun Doran ran a stormer in the Grand Annual and proved that he very much is an improved performer this year. He seems to love coming off a strong pace and be delivered late. However, it wasn’t the first time he has been outstayed up the Cheltenham hill and I suggest this flatter track will suit him a lot better and I can see him battling out the finish for sure.
Grand Annual winner, Croco Bay, will
have produce another career best if he is to back up his Festival win but I suspect he was laid out for his previous assignment and therefore may struggle to repeat such a performance.
Theo was on my shortlist for the Grand Annual and he ran a tidy race in sixth. That was only his second run back since an absence and there is every reason to suggest he should come on for that. He is another who should be suited to this flatter track with a greater emphasis on speed.
It was a case of too bad to be true for GINO TRAIL at the Festival as he faded far too tamely for it to be his true running. He never attacked his fences his usual zest and failed to string the field out. At his very best he is a classy performer and if Kerry Lee can nurse him back to full health in time for Aintree, I believe he is more than capable of winning a big handicap like this.
The shortlist is completed by Theinval who always seems to run his race in contests like these. 1) Gino Trail 2) Theo 3) Theinval
MARES’ FLAT RACE
Alan King is as good as you can get when it comes to training high-class bumper mares and his The Glancing Queen looks to be his best hope in this. She has been mixing it with the boys this season and has been seen to good effect. She enjoyed victory at Cheltenham in November on her racecourse debut and has since performed well in better races, latterly in the Champion Bumper at the Festival where she finished a solid fifth. That form puts her in with a right chance here and I wouldn’t rule her out.
Misty Whisky and Silver Forever could cross swords again after the former mugged the latter on the line at Sandown. Both had quite a hard race that day but connections could be tempted to aim for some more black type. Miss Honey Ryder has won cosily at Taunton the past twice and represents connections who have been known to have a decent bumper performer before. It would be no surprise to see her go close here.
Lady In Hiding was well backed on debut and should improve for the experience but will do well to reverse the form with GETARIVER who has looked a cut above most mares this term.
Dan Skelton’s mare backed up an impressive Ludlow win with a cosy success at Newbury where she carried a penalty and still beat a good field. This race looks the obvious next step and I can see her galloping her way into the winners’ enclosure.
Early Morning Rain and Ellarna complete the shortlist after both have showed signs of improvement throughout the season. 1) Getariver 2) Miss Honey Ryder 3) Lady In Hiding