Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Ultima third can strike at Aintree now
MEETINGOFTHEWATERS has plenty going for him ahead of what promises to be an attritional Randox Grand National, and can put Willie Mullins bang there in the race for the trainers’ championship.
The Closutton maestro carried all before him again at the Cheltenham Festival, where this seven-year-old was not one of his leading lights, but ran a superb trial in the Ultima for his day to shine at Aintree.
Despite having to fiddle his way over quite a few fences under Mark Walsh, he was travelling strongly entering the home straight but had to settle for third after somewhat ballooning the penultimate obstacle.
Having unseated Brian Hayes at the first fence when hampered at the Dublin Racing Festival, that was effectively his first outing since the festive period and Meetingofthewaters just ran a touch freely early on.
With any cobwebs now blown away, he should settle better on Merseyside and more improvement is expected.
Walsh prefers to ride Limerick Lace, but it will be no inconvenience to have Danny Mullins back on board, as he was in the saddle when Meetingofthewaters jumped better over Christmas and ran out a fine winner of the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, proving he can handle a big field in the process.
Formerly trained by Eugene O’Sullivan, he has been at Closutton for less than a year and it would be no surprise to see connections get more and more out of him, plus he is at the right end of the weights for running this marathon in what look sure to be gruelling conditions.
Meanwhile, Dan Skelton again proved his prowess at getting one ready for a repeat win in a valuable handicap at Cheltenham, and Aintree specialist West Balboa can bolster his title aspirations.
This lightly-raced mare landed some nice bets when powering home by five lengths in last year’s renewal of the William Hill Handicap Hurdle and beat Brewin’upastorm by 12 lengths here in November.
That rival recently franked the form with a Grade Two success at Fairyhouse, and West Balboa looks primed for a return to top form following a solid effort over a shorter trip at Kempton last month.
Paul Nicholls will bid to hit back with expensive new recruit Caldwell Potter in the Grade One Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle but the preference is for his former stablemate Brighterdaysahead. Gordon
Elliott was in a particularly bullish mood ahead of her trip to Cheltenham, but Golden Ace stayed on better up the Prestbury Park hill to upset odds-on backers.
That race got a little bit messy rounding the home turn, but Aintree is expected to suit the much-vaunted five-year-old far better and Jack Kennedy should be able to deliver her with a smoother challenge.