Kemboy dishes up a master class in the Bowl
KEMBOY proved every cloud has a silver lining when galloping through driving rain to lift the Betway Bowl Chase.
An eagerly awaited challenge for last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup lasted 18 seconds when the Willie Mullins seven-year-old came down at the first fence.
But his early departure ensured Kemboy came to the Grand National meeting a fresh horse and, with Ruby Walsh replacing the trainer’s nephew David Mullins, he made all the running to beat five opponents – all of whom ran at the Festival – led home by Gold Cup fifth Clan Des Obeaux.
“You have days of good luck and bad luck,” reflected Mullins (above)
RED RUM CHASE RACHAEL BLACKMORE partnered her first Aintree winner as Moon Over Germany proved 10 lengths too strong for 5-4 favourite Lady Buttons.
The victory was a measure of compensation for owner Philip Reynolds, whose Mall Dini was an 11th -hour Grand National scratching.
“He made it very easy for me,” said Blackmore.
The jockey, who rides Valseur Lido in tomorrow’s big race, added: “I’m really looking forward to it .” of his nine-length winner, given a quote of 8-1 for next year’s Gold Cup. “We had bad luck at Cheltenham, and things worked our way today. “He never put a foot wrong from what I could say, but they are awful conditions.
“We haven’t been too hard on him this year – that was only his second run really since Christmas – and he will go to Punchestown,” added Ireland’s Champion trainer, who will consider a trip to America with Kemboy later in the year. While the vast majority of the 33,000 crowd sought shelter from the shivering rain, Walsh, who rides Mullins’ Rathvinden in his quest for a third Grand National triumph, said: “It’s lovely jumping weather!
“I love riding horses on slower ground. I was in my element out there.
“He appeared to have a great chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on form, but it didn’t happen.
“That’s racing. He bounced out of that race in good form and Willie decided to bring him here.
“It felt really smooth. He was in a great rhythm and eyeing the fences up in his own stride.
“He just jumped and travelled and it was always comfortable. I just sat there and let him do it.”
Clan Des Obeaux’s trainer Paul Nicholls lamented: “We were concerned with all that rain as he does prefer better ground, but you can’t do anything about that.
“He has just been beaten by a better horse on the day.”
MARES’ FLAT RACE GLANCING QUEEN, fifth against male opposition in Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper, made no mistake back against her own gender.
After watching the daughter of Jeremy fend off 6-4 favourite Minella Melody, trainer Alan King smiled: “She’s class — seriously good — and I adore her.
“It’s no secret this year that my novice hurdlers are pretty ordinary but I think we’ve had 12 individual bumper winners and she’s very much top of the pile.”
FOXHUNTERS’ CHASE
TABITHA WORSLEY recovered from a broken back to ride Top Wood to victory over the Grand National fences.
Worsley, who fractured vertebrae in a fall at Ludlow in 2017, and the Kelly Morgan trainee looked beaten by Burning Ambition when on the run to the Elbow – but the pair fought back for a two-length margin.
The jockey, who still has metal rods in her back and shoulder, said: “Last year wasn’t my year — but this year certainly is!”
A bruised foot nearly forced the winner, second in last year’s Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, to miss out.