Citizen can cane Topham rivals
SENIOR CITIZEN (Aintree, nap, 4.05) can prove experience is no barrier to success with victory in today’s Randox Topham Chase. The nine-year-old is building an impressive profile around the National fences, having finished an honourable third in last year’s renewal before chasing home a resilient Mac Tottie in the Grand Sefton Chase here last November. The figures compilers rated his latest Liverpool sortie a career-best effort as he again navigated a tricky jumping test with aplomb, before sticking to his task manfully after rounding the Elbow. Given a break since then with this race in mind, Senior Citizen made an encouraging comeback at Newbury last month over an inadequate trip in which he was noted staying on tidily once the winner had flown. Regular rider Adrian Heskin takes over in the saddle from Tom Cannon and his association with Alan King’s gelding has yielded terrific consistency as figures of 132141243412 illustrate when the Irishman partners the selection. Unfortunately for Senior Citizen, Willie Mullins looms large courtesy of Royal Rendezvous and, to a lesser extent, Annamix. Mullins took this race 12 months ago with Livelovelaugh, who galloped rivals including Senior Citizen into submission, and Royal Rendezvous looks a likely candidate. The Irish raider was left trailing in the wake of Fakir D’oudairies at Clonmel in Grade Two company but deserves respect now the Galway Plate winner returns to handicaps on decent ground. Heavy ground at Haydock could have compromised the chances of CRYSTAL GLORY (Aintree, nb, 4.40) last time and the Fame And Glory gelding may vindicate that opinion in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. There is no Hillcrest for the selection to face this time and the dual point-to-point winner should appreciate this afternoon’s test of stamina more than most.