Day One

RACEHORSE LOTTO MANIFESTO NOVICES’ CHASE

THE GROUND had dried out appreciably ahead of the opening day and conditions were, therefore, very much in favour of Banbridge, who was a non-runner in Cheltenham’s Turners Novices’ Chase (due to soft ground). Stepping up in distance on spring ground promised to suit Joseph O’Brien’s seven-year-old and he travelled well to lead two out. Asked to put the race to bed on the long run to the last, he quickened up – as did Saint Roi in second – and produced a fine leap when required. He saw the trip out really well to fend off the runner-up by 1½ lengths, with the pair a further 4¾ lengths clear of Visionarian (had finished a little closer to the runner-up over 2m1f at Leopardstown over Christmas). The winner relishes a sound surface and could well be back at Aintree to contest the 2024 Melling Chase, whilst his trainer suggested that he will be considered for the Punchestown Festival, if coming out of this race well (holds an entry in the 2m Grade 1 novice chase on Thursday 27th April).

Saint Roi was stepping up in distance for the first time and the speed-based track also appeared to suit him really well. A fairly serious error down the far side might well have proven to be critical in the end and he, too, could be aimed at the Melling next year. He will be equally as effective over shorter, when able to sit off a strong pace. Cheltenham winner Stage Star was the disappointment of the race, having led for the most part. It is safe to assume that the long season caught up with Paul Nicholls’ runner, who was having his sixth start since 1st November. He can bounce back next season.

JEWSON ANNIVERSARY 4-Y-O JUVENILE HURDLE

MARKET leader Zenta brought the strongest piece of form to the table, courtesy of her third placing in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and she – just about –justified favouritism under Mark Walsh. A winner on her Irish debut just 20 days before the Triumph, she travelled noticeably well on Gold Cup day and did the same at Aintree. In fact, when cruising to the front two out, it looked as though she would win easily. Nudged out on the run to the last, she went a length up before appearing to idle and just got back up, putting her head down when it mattered, on the line. The front two pulled 5 lengths clear of Adonis winner Nusret and given that she has twice travelled to Britain in the space of four weeks, it was a good effort from the winner.

Runner-up Bo Zenith rallied gamely after the last – with the benefit of the inside rail to run against –and didn’t really deserve to lose. Conceding the 7lbs sex-allowance to the winner, he stepped up massively on his earlier form, when winning the Victor Ludorum at Haydock and a small race under a penalty at Stratford. Representing the in-form stable of Gary Moore, he had beaten Blood Destiny in France and is clearly on an upward curve now. Softer ground would likely have helped him further, as he looks a stayer of the future and remains a horse of some potential. He tried to make all, too, which isn’t easy to do over hurdles at Aintree. The third is a fair yardstick and although coming from out of the pack to finish clear of the remainder, was unable go with the front two once they had quickened clear.

Alder Hey Bowl Chase

AN IMPORTANT 40 minutes or so for Nicky Henderson started with Shishkin landing the Bowl, on his fi rst start over a staying trip. The nine-year-old – who had won at this meeting as a novice chaser two years earlier – had won the Ascot Chase impressively in February, before failing to travel or jump with any great fl uency in the Ryanair. The four week gap between Cheltenham and Aintree likely helped him and he was ridden prominently throughout, suggesting that his connections weren’t worried about his stamina. He jumped fairly soundly throughout and having sat a close-up third for the fi rst circuit, got much closer to the front-running Ahoy Senor at the fi rst fence down the far side. Around 5 lengths down on the long run between the fi nal two fences, he stayed on strongly and after Ahoy Senor got in close to the last, Shishkin fi nished powerfully to win by 1½ lengths. It is now safe to assume that he will be aimed at the King George on Boxing Day.

Ahoy Senor ran really well in second. Unbeaten in two starts at this fi xture previously – Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and Mildmay Novices’ Chase – he looked to have made a race-winning move when powering clear from the second last, but it looked a tired mistake when fi ddling the fi nal fence and he had no response to Shishkin’s finishing effort on the short run-in. He fi nished 16 lengths clear of A Plus

Tard , with the other pair pulling up, with last year’s runner-up Confl ated seemingly running fl at, on the back of a hard race in the Gold Cup (something that often happens in this race). Returning here for the Many Clouds Chase in December would seem the logical starting point for Ahoy Senor next winter.

William Hill Aintree Hurdle

SENT off at prohibitive odds, Constitution Hill became the third successive Champion Hurdle winner to follow up in the Aintree Hurdle in the past seven runnings and never looked in trouble at any stage. Stepping up in distance for the first time under Rules, he made all under Nico de Boinville and the six-year-old again jumped well, standing off a couple of his obstacles. Ears pricked, he had stretched clear down the back straight and only had to be pushed out with minimum effort after the second last and he again won with any amount in hand. The debate will now rage on throughout the summer as to whether he remains over hurdles or will be sent chasing, with him set to be schooled over fences before he goes on his holidays. Sharjah was also trying 2m4f for the first time and was ridden with patience before using his pace to take second spot. A horse with plenty of natural pace, the speed-orientated track appeared to play to his strengths, although he had no chance with the impressive winner, who – in truth – toyed with the opposition.

RANDOX FOXHUNTERS’ OPEN HUNTERS’ CHASE

HAVING highlighted him for this race on the back of an eye-catching sixth-placing at Cheltenham – in the Cheltenham Review – this was one of the more satisfying results of the week, with Famous Clermont duly appreciating the better ground, flatter track and shorter trip. Chris Barber’s eight-year-old looked a ‘non-stayer’ at Cheltenham, but travelled with ease throughout here. Kept out wide at the first couple, he found himself in mid-division and was ridden with patience and confidence by Will Biddick. Much closer by the time they reached Becher’s, he made his move at the final fence and was still on the bridle as he eased clear after the elbow. It was a smooth performance and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he skipped Cheltenham next year, with a repeat bid in mind. Credit Call won this race three times between 1972 and 1976, and two horses – Katarino and On The Fringe – have won back-to-back renewals since 2005. Only eight (the youngest winner since 1994), there would appear to be every chance that Famous Clermont can add his name to that list next year. Last year’s winner Latenightpass ran well for a long way and finished a respectable fourth.

Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase

RUNNER-UP in 2022, Dancing On My Own went one place better – from a 3lbs higher mark – this time around and provided Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore with a second Red Rum in the past four renewals. The front two sat first and second throughout, with Douglas Talking setting a strong pace under Stephen Mulqueen. A mistake at the cross-fence (fourth last) pushed the winner back to third, but he kept on under a strong drive and after the leader reached for the last, Dancing On My Own got up to win by 1½ lengths.

Douglas Talking made a bold bid from the front, as he went in search of a hat-trick, having gone up another 10lbs for his recent Sandown success. Slightly softer ground might have helped his chance, but he did little wrong and remains a young chaser on an upward curve. Lucinda Russell could have been forgiven for thinking that it wasn’t going to be her week at this point (also responsible for Ahoy Senor, of course), but her fortunes would change – in no uncertain terms – over the next two days. Douglas Talking went up another 5lbs (139) for this sound effort in defeat. Both The Last Day (last year’s winner) and Hasankey came from off the pace, although the front two were the best part of 5 lengths clear of that pair.

GOFFS UK NICKEL COIN MARES’ STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE

A COMPETITIVE-LOOKING renewal of this Grade 2 bumper on paper, it was blown apart in the end by Dysart Enos who completed the hat-trick in some style, to provide Fergal O’Brien with a first winner at the fixture. Ridden towards the rear of the main group, the Ludlow and Market Rasen winner was kept on the inner by Paddy Brennan and was angled off the rail on the side of the course. Tracking stable-mate Politacus (4th) into the straight, she cruised to the front and quickly sealed the victory, stretching right away to win by a widening 9 lengths. It was a really impressive display from the daughter of Malinas, who had beaten the hitherto unbeaten Queens Gamble (received 4lbs) in Listed company last time and she paid a handsome compliment to Oliver Sherwood’s mare here. O’Brien has saddled mares to hit the frame in this race previously and the five-year-old rates an exciting prospect for novice hurdles against her own sex next season.

Runner-up Golden Ace turned Ascot form around with the fourth, keeping on well once coming under pressure, whilst the Willie Mullinstrained pairing of Williamstowndancer (3 rd) and Jolie Coeur Allen (5th) also ran with promise. The former came from an unpromising position, whilst the latter – who was backed into favouritism on her first start for Mullins and JP McManus – travelled noticeably well for a long way. This experience should benefit her in the long term.