National target for Vintage Clouds
Hopefully we will have better luck this year. Off 146 he should get in.
Sue Smith, Yorkshire trainer on Grand National hopes for Vintage Clouds.
SUE SMITH is considering Haydock’s Peter Marsh Handicap Chase as the next target for Vintage Clouds en route to a potential tilt at the Randox Health Grand National.
The nine-year-old could attempt to bounce back to form in the Grade Three contest on January 19 after being pulled up in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, having previously made a winning return at Haydock.
Bingley-based Smith said: “Vintage Clouds is fine. Danny Cook said he was not happy on the ground at Chepstow. He goes through wet ground, but he doesn’t enjoy holding ground.
“I really do think he does enjoy being on better ground, though.
“He might have an entry in the Peter Marsh at Haydock later this month, but the ground is key to him.”
Aintree is the big target for the grey after he failed to make the final cut 12 months ago.
Smith, who won the National with Auroras Encore in 2013, added: “He will have an entry in the Grand National.
“He just missed out on getting in last year, and I do think he is definitely that type of horse,” she added. “Hopefully we will have better luck this year. Off 146 he should get in.
“It would be lovely to have the horse run a very big race for Mr (Trevor) Hemmings in the National.”
Connections of Un De Sceaux are praying for rain ahead of a rematch with Altior in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday week.
Willie Mullins’s nine-time Grade One winner turned 11 this week, but showed he retains all his enthusiasm when pushing Altior in the Tingle Creek.
The two are on course for a rematch in a race Un De Sceaux has won for the last three years, and his owners believe very soft ground is their best chance of gaining revenge.
“The only concern we’d have at this stage is the lack of rain that is forecast. I’d love it to be an absolute mud bath in Swinley Bottom,” said part-owner Colm O’Connell.
“Looking at the forecast there’s not much rain for the next couple of weeks, it’s supposed to be cold and that just tightens up the ground. As it stands that’s his target, he’s going for four in a row and I’d love another crack at Altior. I think there’s something romantic about a rematch.
“I’m not saying that we’ve any chance of beating him, but he’s entitled to take him along to the last fence.
“I know there was that downpour during the Tingle Creek, but it didn’t get into the ground. I walked Sandown before racing. I always take a spare pair of socks to change into, but when I went to change them they were bone dry, so the ground wasn’t that soft.
“I just think if we get proper heavy where they are thinking of abandoning the meeting that’s when we’re at our best. Un De Sceaux with Ruby (Walsh) on board takes some beating in those conditions.
“I’d be happy to take on Altior if it’s like that – he’s like Ivan Drago and we’re like Rocky; we’ll keep coming back for more.
“The thing about getting beaten by a horse like Altior is there’s no shame in it. If we win then we’re hailed as a superstar and if we lose we’ve the greatest excuse in the world. We’ve nothing to lose.
“In the summer we highlighted the Ascot race as our Gold Cup. You never know, if it is heavy Nicky Henderson just might think if another battle with Un De Sceaux a few weeks before Cheltenham is what Altior really needs.
“We had no excuses at Sandown, Ruby said everything went right on the day, we were just beaten by a better horse.”