AINTREE DAY ONE
Ben Morgan reviews all the action on the opening day in Liverpool
Manifesto Novices Chase
There was heartbreak galore in the Cheltenham equivalent of this race as Envoi Allen tipped up early on in the Marsh Chase. As he will be staying in Ireland for the remainder of the season, it was quite useful to see how the race panned out after his exit as it will give us a good idea as to who might come to the fore here.
The Marsh winner, Chantry House, is a possible but I would say connections would be keen to step him up in trip after his stamina clearly won him the day at Cheltenham. He’s always looked like a 3 miler and that race confirmed to my mind that he should now be running over that trip.
I was very keen on the second that day, FUSIL RAFFLES, as he is a completely different horse on good ground. He impressed me when winning at Cheltenham earlier in the season as a lot went wrong for him but he still beat a very good field. I anticipated he might cause a shock in the Marsh but after helping force the pace at Cheltenham, he just fell in a bit of a hole at the back of the last which is understandable. He should strip fitter for that and I anticipate a bold showing here as a consequence.
Shan Blue bombed out in the Marsh but is better than what he showed. His dead eye fencing could prove to be an asset around Aintree if he gets loose on the front end but I just wonder if he had too much of a hard race at
Sandown. That battle with Sporting John in heavy ground up the Sandown hill looked a gruelling battle and neither horses covered themselves in glory at Cheltenham.
Paul Nicholls’ Hitman missed Cheltenham so I presume they are waiting for this assignment. He’s looked a typical Nicholls chasing type and although you would imagine he will be even better next year, he has more than enough ability to figure here.
Willie Mullins’ Franco De Port and Colin Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen would be interesting if they step up in trip.
1) Fusil Raffles
2) Hitman
3) Franco De Port
Doom Bar Anniversary Hurdle
I don’t think we learnt much in the Triumph about where we stand in juvenile division this year. It was such a slow gallop that Rachel Blackmore was able to kick first on the home bend with Quilixios and that move sealed the deal. Henry De Bromhead’s charge may head here as the sharp track will undoubtedly suit but I’m not convinced that he is the best juvenile around.
Zanahiyr was disappointing at Cheltenham but I’d be inclined to write that off. He had earlier looked a smart type and is probably worth giving a second chance to but I wasn’t his biggest fan before Cheltenham and I haven’t really changed my mind.
The best juvenile I have seen this year has been TRITONIC and I was bitterly disappointed with his effort at Cheltenham. It looked too bad to be true and I don’t necessarily think it was the pace of the race that was his downfall. He had earlier shown plenty of boot at Kempton, albeit in lesser company, so I was surprised he didn’t pick up at all at Cheltenham. I’m hoping he bounces back to form here as I think he could be very smart next year.
Normally there is a horse that comes out of the Juvenile handicap which goes on to take this but I can’t see anything that would necessarily have an obvious chance here. Saint Sam may be one who could run here but he would have to step up on what he has shown so far.
1) Tritonic
2) Quilixios
3) Saint Sam
Betway Bowl Chase
Minella Indo caused a minor upset in the Gold Cup as not many were backing him after he disappointed twice this season. He bounced right back to his best though at a course we know he loves and with that in mind I find it unlikely that he will turn up here.
His stablemate, A Plus Tard, is much more likely to run however as he strikes you as a horse who would be better suited to a greater test of speed rather than stamina. He has
improved no end this season and I would be a brave man to rule out further improvement here. For some reason I can’t quite warm to him and I’m not sure why. The form is in the book but he’s not for me here.
Kemboy was at his brilliant best here two years ago and if he were to return he would have to warrant serious consideration. He clearly thrives off a flat track and when he gets into that rhythm out in front he becomes very hard to pass. You can ignore his run in the Gold Cup as he simply does not like the course.
He gave CLAN DES OBEAUX a good hiding here two years ago but Paul Nicholls’ horse had arrived here off the back of a tough run in the Gold Cup. This year connections have decided to come straight here instead of running him on a track which they know he doesn’t like. That will definitely be to his advantage as he will be a fresh horse and a few of these may have had a tough race in the Gold Cup. He’s a couple years older, stronger and wiser than when Kemboy put him in his place and I fancy him to reverse that form now.
1) Clan Des Obeaux
2) Kemboy
3) A Plus Tard
Aintree Hurdle
This could be an interesting clash if all of these horses that I’m about to mention get here in one piece. The most notable runner may well be BUVEUR D’AIR who sidestepped the Champion Hurdle in preference for this. His trainer has already stated that he feels the two time Champion Hurdler may have just lost a gear or two to be able to cope at the top level over two miles but he feels he might just have gained a bit of stamina. With that in mind you would think this is the perfect race for him and although he just got outstayed in horrendous conditions here in 2019, on better ground you certainly fancy him to run well this year.
Wonder mare, Honeysuckle, looks set to stay in Ireland this term but would be a fascinating runner for obvious reasons if she did turn up. Similar comments apply to Roksana but I think connections have finally worked out that her optimum trip is over further.
Silver Streak would be an obvious contender here as you would certainly fancy him to stay a little further than 2 miles. I was shocked that he set out to make all the running in the Champion Hurdle as he virtually sacrificed his own chance by doing so. With so many front runners in the race I thought it was an unnecessary move and if given a more patient ride here I can certainly see him in the 3.
McFabulous has been touted for this race for quite a while now as 2m 4f around Aintree is somewhere near his optimum. He seems to really appreciate a flat track where there is plenty of speed on as he travels so strongly. He looked all at sea last time at Fontwell and that run is best forgotten about as he should prove a completely different proposition around a track where he has had success before.
His Fontwell conqueror that day, Brewin’upastorm, is a big player here as he remains unexposed over hurdles. It didn’t quite work out for him over fences and the step back to hurdles seems to have reignited the flame. It’s a pretty hot flame when he is on form too and I think this race might just bring out the best in him.
1) Buveur D’Air
2) Brewin’upastorm
3) McFabulous
Foxhunters Chase
We were treated to a thriller in this at Cheltenham as Porlock Bay denied Billaway in a ding dong battle up the Cheltenham hill. It was a fantastic victory for Will Biddick and his team and also for the British point to point scene. I’m sure connections will no
doubt fancy a crack at this but over this shorter trip you would have to worry whether they may just go a stride too fast for him.
The runner up has a bit of form over shorter distances so I wouldn’t be too concerned about him over this trip but he does have a knack of finding at least one too good on the big day.
It Came To Pass would come into the reckoning but he has to jump better and if he makes the mistakes he made at Cheltenham here then he won’t be on his feet for too long.
I’d be hopeful of a better showing from Mel Rowley’s pair of Salvatore and Wishing And Hoping. The latter will be more effective over this trip and on better ground.
I’m going to give another chance to RED INDIAN though as he shaped well for a long way at Cheltenham and could strip fitter here on his second run after a wind op. Kelly Morgan’s horse was a smart performer under rules and had some form at Aintree when with Ben Pauling. Morgan herself has a good record in this race after taking it two years ago so she could make herself a bit of an Aintree specialist if she is able to double up. He could be a fair price after his Cheltenham disappointment and I’ll take a punt on him.
1) Red Indian
2) Billaway
3) Wishing And Hoping
Red Rum Handicap Chase
This will be a ferocious 2 mile handicap chase and I don’t think you will want to be too far off the pace. That pace may be set by Henry De Bromhead’s ORNUA who took the Novices Chase at this meeting a couple of seasons back. He hasn’t quite kicked on since that victory but in fairness to him he rarely gets his ground in Ireland and I think connections have been laying him out for a handicap like this. If it’s good ground come Day 1 of the festival then I think this fellow has a fantastic chance.
He may have to jostle with On The Slopes in order to get to the front after Chris Gordon’s charge showed much more of his old zest in the Grand Annual. He finished a close fourth that day and a repeat performance would see him bang there around a track that I think will suit.
Not That Fuisse was another horse to run in the Grand Annual and he now must be feared as this time of year is when he could excel on the better ground. He has put in more than one classy performance in his career to suggest there is plenty under the bonnet and I’m sure he will have his
big day soon. The Nicky Henderson pair of Mengli Khan and Theinval must be respected as I can see them both running well. The former is becoming increasingly well handicapped whilst the latter comes alive when the sun is on his back.
Umbrigado missed the festival but is certainly on the up this season. I wonder whether he may just benefit from a step up in trip now as he may get run off his feet in a race like this.
Nietzsche completes the shortlist despite running over 3 miles at Cheltenham. He was very keen that day but still plugged on to finish 8th. He has top notch form over 2 miles and I believe he is well handicapped so he would be interesting dropping back down to the minimum trip.
1) Ornua
2) Not That Fuisse
3) Niethzsche
Mares Flat Race
I think there is going to be a short price favourite here in the shape of EILEENDOVER who has been somewhat of a talking horse this year. She burst onto the scene at Huntingdon when romping home by 29 lengths in a 1m 6f bumper before going on to record a 16 length success at Wetherby after that. She then tried her hand in listed company at Market Rasen and there was so much confidence in her that she actually went off favourite despite running against a well touted Willie Mullins runner, Grangee. She did the business in good style that day too and connections have since mooted the possibility of her being campaigned on the level this summer with the hope she could make up into a stakes filly. With that in mind she must surely go close here against a field of National Hunt mares who more often than not will be running over 3 miles in 12 months time.
Grangee may reoppose as she herself has proven to be a top quality mare by winning the bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival after getting beat by Eileendover. The fact her trainer sent her over to Market Rasen suggested she was held in some regard and her 6th placed effort in the Champion Bumper can be upgraded somewhat as it was such a slow run race.
The mare to take out of the Champion Bumper was certainly Dan Skelton’s mare, Elle Est Belle. Switched off at the back of the field she could be counted as perhaps the unluckiest loser in the field as she made up the most ground off a slow pace to finish third beaten only 6 lengths. That was a phenomenal effort in all honesty and her previous form proves it wasn’t just a one run wonder. Whether or not Skelton decides to keep her against the boys, I’m not so sure but if she turned up here you would have to give her maximum respect.
The Sandown listed bumper in
March always gives me a fair indication as to what might turn up here but this year the ground was so testing I’m not sure many will hold that form. Flirtatious Girl took the honours that day for Kim Bailey reversing the form with Rainyday Woman. If that race hasn’t taken too much out of her then I can see Bailey trying his hand here but it will be a completely different test although that’s not to say she can’t handle it.
Rainyday Woman bombed out at Sandown and is probably better judged on her earlier performances where she looked a top class mare.
She could bounce back here. The final mare I’d like to mention is Speech Bubble who was a big eye catcher in the Sandown race. Noel Williams is a dab hand at training mares and it looks like he has another smart one on his hands here.
1) Eileendover
2) Elle Est Belle
3) Speech Bubble