Min can be merciless in absence of Altior
MIN found only Altior too good at Cheltenham and in that rival’s absence, he could take all the beating in the JLT Melling Chase on day two of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.
Willie Mullins’ charge served it up to his old rival in the Champion Chase, but just as in the 2016 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Altior had too many guns and Min had to settle for a creditable second.
That was still an excellent effort, though, and put to bed any suggestions that Min was not quite the force of old, an idea some had raised after his reverse in the stewards’ room at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Mullins switches back up to two and a half miles here after sending Min over that trip on his seasonal bow and while this race is a much tougher proposition, we do at least know he gets the distance.
Ryanair hero Balko Des Flos clearly represents some stiff competition over this intermediate trip, but Min just has a touch of class and can put his pace to good us in the finish.
Terrefort is interesting stepped up to three miles and a furlong in the Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase.
He chased home Shattered Love in the JLT at Cheltenham and was previously a Grade One winner over two and a half miles at Sandown, when his superior stamina saw him just hold off Cyrname.
While he has yet to run over this distance, he was placed over two miles and six furlongs when trained in France and his half-brother, Vino Griego, certainly saw out three miles well, which offers some further hope. Nicky Henderson bypassed a shorter option earlier in the week at Aintree, and the hint should be taken.
Santini can make it an extra special day for the Seven Barrows team up stepping up on his Festival third in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.
Ben Pauling set his sights on the Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle for Global Citizen following a wide-margin win back in February and his plan can now come to fruition.
A nine-length victory in the Dovecote saw his rating rocket to 149 from 130, ruling out possible handicap aims at both Sandown and Cheltenham while prompting Pauling to bring this Grade One heat into consideration.
The six-year-old actually boasts the highest mark here against some much more highly-tried rivals and he can complete his transition to top novice level, with ground conditions not a concern.