Tag Archive for: Aintree

Jack Kennedy back riding out with hopes of Aintree return

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Jack Kennedy returned to riding out at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House yard on Wednesday, but it is still unknown whether he will be fit for action at Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

The 23-year-old suffered a broken leg in a fall at Naas in January and has since missed key mounts at both the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham Festival.

Having missed out on a return at Prestbury Park last month, Kennedy rode two lots on Wednesday, but will still need to pass the racecourse doctor if he is to appear back on a racecourse in Liverpool – where the Elliott number one is likely to partner the likes of Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated in the Aintree Bowl and Delta Work in the Randox Grand National.

“It was my first day riding out this morning and I rode two lots,” said Kennedy at a press event ahead of Aintree.

Jack Kennedy, here aboard Delta Work, who would be his likely mount in the Randox Grand National
Jack Kennedy, here aboard Delta Work, who would be his likely mount in the Randox Grand National (PA)

“I’m getting there but the first day is always the hardest. I was happy enough but the first is always the hardest, so it should be getting easier from here on in hopefully.

“I’m just going to see how the riding out goes and ideally I would love to be riding in Aintree, but I won’t know until closer to the time.

“I’ve got eight or nine days, I’ve been cleared to ride out but I would need to be cleared to race ride, so fingers crossed it keeps going well.

“I still need to build it up and I’m doing plenty of physio and things, but hopefully once it keeps progressing the way it has been it shouldn’t be too much longer.”

O’Brien lining up strong Aintree challenge

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Fakir D’oudairies, Banbridge and Home By The Lee are all set to represent Joseph O’Brien at next week’s Grand National meeting at Aintree.

The JP McManus-owned Fakir D’oudairies will head to Merseyside fresh for his bid for a third successive victory in the Grade One Marsh Chase, having sidestepped last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

His stablemate Banbridge also missed the showpiece meeting in the Cotswolds after O’Brien took him out of the Turners’ Novices’ Chase due to the rain-softened ground at Prestbury Park.

That freshness could prove key as both are readied for another trip across the Irish Sea.

“Fakir has been good in Aintree the last few years. It looks like it will be a very good race this year, as you’d expect, but he’ll go there with a live chance again,” said O’Brien.

“We’ve learned that Banbridge is at his best on a sounder surface and it was very testing on the day at Cheltenham.

“We also have him entered at Fairyhouse, but I think Aintree is more likely to get better ground.”

Home By The Lee and JJ Slevin after winning at Leopardstown
Home By The Lee and JJ Slevin after winning at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Home By The Lee was in action at Cheltenham, lining up with strong claims in the Stayers’ Hurdle after previous wins this season at Navan and Leopardstown.

The eight-year-old passed the post in fifth after a jumping error cost him vital ground and momentum and he could renew rivalries with a few of those who finished ahead of him in the Grade One Liverpool Hurdle on Grand National day.

O’Brien added: “Home By The Lee made a very bad mistake in Cheltenham and was probably lucky not to fall or pull a muscle, but he’s fine after the race and he potentially will go to Aintree.”

‘Robust policing plans’ in place after reported National protest plot

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Merseyside Police has underlined its “robust policing plans” after climate activists were reportedly plotting to “ruin” the Grand National by staging a protest on raceday.

Members of Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, plan to form a human barricade across the course at Aintree after sneaking into the event with ladders and bolt cutters, according to reports.

The Mail on Sunday reports more than 100 activists had signed up to take part on April 15, with the climate group planning to take them to the racecourse in mini buses, where it is claimed they would then glue themselves to the course.

Runners in the 2022 Grand National
Runners in the 2022 Grand National (David Davies/PA)

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police has a robust policing plan in place for Aintree, as it does for any major public event, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

“We have been working with our partners, including the Jockey Club, for a number of months in the build-up to this year’s festival to ensure that any necessary plans and processes are in place to deal with any incidents that may arise and to prevent any significant or ongoing disruption to racegoers and local residents and businesses.

“We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”

Six activists ran on to the track before the Derby at Epsom last year, while four climate-change protesters chained themselves to the rail by the winning post on the final day of Royal Ascot in 2021.

Shishkin ready to step up in Aintree Bowl

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Shishkin will step up to three miles in the Aintree Bowl, with trainer Nicky Henderson rating the April 13 contest as the potential “race of the year”.

The nine-year-old was a dominant force in the two-mile chase division until he was pulled up in the 2022 Champion Chase and after struggling on his return in the Tingle Creek, Henderson successfully stepped him up to two miles and five furlongs for an impressive 16-length victory in the Ascot Chase.

Shishkin was duly sent off the evens favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham but he was slow to stride and a bad mistake three fences from home cost him valuable momentum, with the gelding eventually staying on to finish a two-and-three-quarter-length second to Envoi Allen.

Shishkin was a wide-margin winner at Ascot in February
Shishkin was a wide-margin winner at Ascot in February (Steven Paston/PA)

Henderson will now roll the dice at a longer distance on Merseyside, where possible rivals include Bravemansgame, Conflated and Protektorat, the respective second, third and fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as well as the 2021 Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard.

The Seven Barrows trainer said: “The Bowl is going to be some race because everyone’s threatening to run. It won’t be a re-run of the Gold Cup because I can’t see the Gold Cup winner coming (Galopin Des Champs), but I can see the rest of them coming. So he’s going to have join in with them. It could easily be the best race of the year.

“Ascot suggested that two-miles-five-furlongs wasn’t a problem, so you’re going three extra furlongs on an easier track. So it shouldn’t technically be a problem.

“If this works then that will definitely tell us where we go next year. You’d be thinking about the King George or even the Betfair Chase to start with. And if the King George goes well then obviously you’ve got to think about the Gold Cup. But again, everything has to go right.”

Nicky Henderson with Aintree hopeful Shishkin
Nicky Henderson with Aintree hopeful Shishkin (David Davies/PA)

Henderson admitted he and his team have needed to address a couple of issues since Cheltenham, after Shishkin hung left throughout the race.

He added: “We haven’t found issues that we haven’t corrected and I’m hopeful he won’t do all that again. He shouldn’t. We haven’t done anything dramatic, it was more physio, chiropractors – hopefully we’ve helped him.

“He’s a horse that has in the past had a few issues. We had those issues and we got him right and it all came together at Ascot and then we slightly fluffed our lines at Cheltenham, which was sad.

“But he still finished a remarkably good second, having got it all wrong. So if we have ironed that out then we’ve got every right to think we must have a chance at Aintree.”

Post-Aintree school to determine Constitution’s chasing plans

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Nicky Henderson expects to make a decision on whether Constitution Hill is sent over fences next season around 10 days after his run in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

The six-year-old sealed his superstar status with his cosy nine-length verdict in the Champion Hurdle, but a chase career has been mooted for some time, with the possibility of him aiming to emulate the great mare Dawn Run, the only horse complete the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double.

A post-Aintree schooling session under Nico de Boinville is planned for Constitution Hill, after which Henderson believes he will know in which direction they will be heading.

“It’s possible Aintree could be his last run over hurdles. Everything is possible,” he said.

Constitution Hill relaxing at Seven Barrows
Constitution Hill relaxing at Seven Barrows (David Davies/PA)

“There are more opportunities over fences to start with, which would lead to the Arkle and the Champion Chase or maybe even the Gold Cup if he stays. A real superstar is a horse that can adapt to everything.

“It’ll all happen after Aintree. Michael (Buckley, owner) was down here the other day and we said what we would probably try to do is, about 10 days after Aintree, if the ground hasn’t dried up too quickly, we’ll school him over fences here (at Seven Barrows) and that’ll give us an idea.

“Then we have the whole summer to sit down and discuss, but if we’ve had one look at him schooling over fences Nico will know, and Michael and I will know, pretty well what are the options then.

“His hurdling and his way of crossing a hurdle is very, very effective but you can’t do that over fences.

“He’s got to learn to jump rather than hurdle. It could be that he’s got totally the wrong technique, I don’t know, but I’d be very surprised. He’s such an intelligent horse that I think he’ll soon realise, probably by actually just rubbing a fence, that he’ll say ‘oh wow, somebody’s raised the bar and now we’ll do something about it’.

“It’ll probably take him one mistake to work it out and a lot of sensible horses will work it out.

“The road has got to be smooth the whole way. Luckily this year, touch wood and we’ve still got two weeks to go, he’s not had any issues and it would be very disappointing for everyone if he couldn’t run (at Aintree).”

Constitution Hill leads his stablemates through the cooling stream
Constitution Hill leads his stablemates through the cooling stream (David Davies/PA)

Usually there are only three weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree, but this year’s calendar gives an extra week.

“We have the advantage this year of the four-week gap between the two (Cheltenham and Aintree) when it’s normally three. This time last year there was a lot of talk about him running again (after Cheltenham), but in my mind there was no chance of him running again and he didn’t after the Supreme,” said Henderson.

“He was only a young horse and it took a lot out of him to be honest. He didn’t come out of Cheltenham at all well last year and we only had the three-week gap.

“This year’s completely different. If it had been a three-week gap he’d be going to Aintree. Touch wood, I think he looks fantastic – I don’t think he’s ever looked better in his skin. He looks in great health.”

Constitution Hill took off a stride too soon over the last in the Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill took off a stride too soon over the last in the Champion Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

Having made his first semblance of a mistake at the final flight in the Champion Hurdle, Henderson will do his best to ensure Constitution Hill does not do that again, while he does not envisage an extra half-mile at Aintree being a problem.

“He hasn’t started his serious work yet because we’ve had that gap. They have a very quiet first week, then he’s started cantering again and then he’ll have his first piece of work this weekend,” he said.

“Then he’ll have two more bits of work to do after that and then school, I’m sure, because the last hurdle he jumped – that sort of technique needs to be ironed out.

“You can’t iron it out completely – that’s his style and how he gets out of trouble – but luckily he’s got so much scope that he can do it.

“He was so full of horse that any other horse would have been tired at that stage and that mistake would have almost certainly tipped them over, but he had the ability to come up and then come up again in the air. It was an extraordinary thing to be able to do.

“He’s got to show that he stays two and a half miles, but don’t forget we were actually prepared to run him over two and a half first time out this year at Ascot, so I can’t be worried about doing it at Aintree this time of the year.”

Syd Hosie retains plenty of faith in Rock My Way

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Rock My Way has two possible targets at Aintree as owner-trainer Syd Hosie looks ahead to a possible chasing career with his star five-year-old.

Hosie has been involved as an owner for many years with Colin Tizzard before entering the training ranks last year, saddling a handful of winners from his Dorset base.

Having earned a Grade Two success in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham in January, Rock My Way flew the flag for the yard in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival meeting and ran well for a long way before tiring behind Stay Away Fay, eventually being pulled up.

Hosie said: “The Albert Bartlett was a very good race this year. He ran really well for a long way, but just didn’t stay three miles.

“He is a nice horse, but he is five. There were two five-year-olds in the race, but I’m not making excuses.

“We have two options now, either the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree over two-miles-four (furlongs) – that is probably where we are going to head with him, then put him away – and there is the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, but that is a bit of an ask, being a Grade One.

“I’m more inclined to run him in the handicap.”

Rock May Way has the scope to go chasing, although Hosie will take his time before making a plan for next season and beyond.

He added: “I have two owners with him now (Nick Case and John Romans), so we will see how he summers and make a plan.

“He definitely has the scope to go over fences. To me, a horse like that, is going to be more natural over a fence – he’s going to do everything easier over a fence.

“He probably needs to strengthen up a little more.”

National hope Hill aiming to make it third-time lucky for Thomson

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Sandy Thomson will fly the flag for the Scottish Borders when Hill Sixteen lines up in the Randox Grand National.

The region has a rich racing heritage and the 10-year-old will be the Lambden-based trainer’s third runner in the race as he sneaks into the 40-strong field off a feather-weight of 10st 2lb.

Seeyouatmidnight was sent off at 11-1 as Thomson’s first runner in the Merseyside marathon in 2018 finishing a well-held 11th behind Tiger Roll, before Dingo Dollar rather unfortunately unshipped Ryan Mania when going well at the second Canal Turn 12 months ago.

Now it is the turn of Hill Sixteen, who was beaten a nose in a Becher Chase thriller by Snow Leopardess in 2021 and last seen finishing seventh in the most recent renewal of the renowned dress rehearsal over the famous green spruce.

Although his best form comes with ease in the ground, his two completions over the National fences have the Borders handler dreaming it will be a case of third-time lucky ahead of Hill Sixteen’s turn to face the Aintree starter.

“We’re really looking forward to it and it has been such a funny spring we really could get a soft-ground National,” said Thomson.

“We’ve seen in the Becher over the past two years it has got to be soft for him to stand a chance. We saw last year that on good ground the top-rated horses have a much better chance, but when it turns soft, they have a big weight to lump round.”

The Grand National has been an ever-present in Thomson’s life and from an early age he grew up listening to tales of Scotland’s favourite racehorse – the Reg Tweedie-trained Freddie.

Freddie was sent off favourite for both the 1965 and 1966 Grand Nationals, finishing runner-up on both occasions, while Thomson’s brush with Aintree history stretches back to 1939 silver medallist MacMoffatt who was bred by the handler’s grandfather.

Although John Leadbetter’s Rubstic in 1979 and Lucinda Russell’s 2017 scorer One For Arthur are the only two winners of the world’s most famous steeplechase from north of the border, Thomson is keen to uphold Scotland’s strong association with the race.

He continued: “I have lots of very early memories of the race and we had Freddie just up the road. I was too young then but grew up with the stories of Freddie and my grandfather bred MacMoffatt.

“John Leadbetter won it and the Borders have had a great association with the race, albeit mostly hard-luck stories rather than actually winning it. But we’ve always gone there and been competitive.

“Non-racing people can’t understand how difficult it is to get a horse qualified to run in the Grand National and hopefully this will be our third runner. Some yards have hardly had a runner in the race. It’s a great occasion to be part of.”

Horse Racing – The 2013 John Smith’s Grand National – Grand National Day – Aintree Racecourse
Ryan Mania celebrates on Auroras Encore after winning the Grand National in 2013 (David Davies/PA)

If Hill Sixteen were to march home in front on April 15, it would be an extra-special moment for Thomson with stepson-in-law Ryan Mania set to do the steering.

Mania won the National on Auroras Encore in 2013 and having retired from the saddle in 2014, spent his years away from the weighing room serving as assistant for Thomson’s Lambden Racing operation before returning to the riding ranks with renewed vigour in 2019.

“Ryan’s record round the fences is very good,” continued Thomson. “He was unlucky last year with his saddle slipping round Canal Turn. That can happen to anyone in a race like that.

“The race has changed hugely over the last four or five years. Ryan said after riding in it last year that it’s such a different race now to what is was when he won on Aurora’s Encore.”

Vaughan thrilled as Eva’s Oskar makes National cut

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Trainer Tim Vaughan was relieved and delighted in equal measure after Eva’s Oskar was confirmed as the 40th horse in the field following the latest scratchings deadline for the Randox Grand National.

The nine-year-old, who won a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham earlier in the season, was previously further down the order of entry for the Aintree spectacular, but is now guaranteed a starting berth after a total of 16 horses were taken out.

The defectors include Shark Hanlon’s joint top-weight Hewick and Gordon Elliott’s Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated, with both absences anticipated. Becher Chase winner Ashtown Lad has also been removed by Dan Skelton, as has the Willie Mullins-trained Franco De Port.

Vaughan said: “We definitely want to run – we’re eager beavers!

“What’s lovely is we’ve actually got in. A lad who works for me was counting them down and we were thinking we might be 41st and you’re still lingering then until the day.

“It’s quite nice as it feels like we can relax now, enjoy the process and just hope that he takes to the fences well on the day.”

Since his Cheltenham success of early December, Eva’s Oskar has finished sixth at Sandown and fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

The grey is a 100-1 shot to claim Grand National glory with William Hill, but Vaughan insists he is not just there to make up the numbers.

Trainer Tim Vaughan (right) at Cheltenham
Trainer Tim Vaughan (right) at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

“We’ve been planning to go there for some time and he seems in good shape. We can make a few fences at home now with the spruce on,” the Welsh trainer added.

“We didn’t want to do that until we knew where we were at. We thought today would sort the wheat from the chaff in terms of who definitely wanted to run and we’re excited to be in there.

“Of course I’m not naive enough to think we’re going there as a 10-1 chance, but as outsiders go he ticks a lot of boxes in that he’s good enough to win a £70,000 premier handicap at Cheltenham and he’s finished fourth in the Eider – we think he can do himself justice.

“It’s obviously a massive step up in class and it’s a great race with all the jazz that goes with it, but you’ve got to be in it to win it and that we are at the moment.”

Any Second Now will carry top-weight of 11st 12lb in the Grand National
Any Second Now will carry top-weight of 11st 12lb in the Grand National (Brian Lawless/PA)

A total of 57 contenders have stood their ground, with Ted Walsh’s Any Second Now – third and second in the last two renewals – out on his own at the head of the weights on 11st 12lb.

Last year’s winner Noble Yeats is just 1lb behind on 11st 11lb, as is Galvin, while ante-post favourite Corach Rambler looks set to carry 10st 5lb.

Eva’s Oskar and Recite A Prayer are the two lowest-rated horses in the field of 40 at this stage, with a mark of 142 translating to a weight of 10st 1lb.

Connections of the three horses rated 141 – Our Power, Dunboyne and Francky Du Berlais – now face an anxious wait to see if they will make the final cut for the great race on April 15.

Buzz to be aimed at Flat return, as Henderson rules Aintree out

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Nicky Henderson’s strong team of hurdlers for Aintree will not include Buzz or Steal A March.

The Seven Barrows handler, who took his Cheltenham Festival winners tally to 73 when Constitution Hill gave him a record ninth Champion Hurdle, has ruled both out of running at the Grand National Festival.

Dual-purpose star Buzz won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and Ascot Hurdle in quick succession in the autumn of 2021, but has been off the track since fracturing his pelvis the day before an intended outing in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Henderson felt a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle would have been a bridge too far and similarly feels bypassing the Liverpool Hurdle allows the nine-year-old grey more time to return to peak fitness.

“We are working away with Buzz, I think really concentrating on a Flat campaign,” said Henderson. “That would be the most likely scenario.

“He is not quite going to be ready for Aintree, anyway. It would be tough to throw him straight into a Grade One.

“So I think we will be looking, as long as the weather holds on for a bit in the summer, at the Flat.

“But he is in good form and it is great to have him back in action. He’s enjoying himself, anyway.”

Steal A March was well-fancied by the yard to land what would have been a popular victory in the Pertemps Final.

The eight-year-old, who gave Henderson huge satisfaction by winning a lowly Worcester handicap hurdle on June 4, providing the Queen with a winner during her Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations, will similarly not make the team for Aintree.

Now carrying the famous purple, scarlet and gold silks of the King, Steal A March was a narrow runner-up on his seasonal bow in a decent Newbury handicap and then scored at Wincanton on Boxing Day.

However, he did not line up at Cheltenham and Henderson revealed he has met with a setback.

“Unfortunately we had a problem with him before Cheltenham and he is going to have to take a bit of time out, which is frustrating, because I was very, very keen to run him in the Pertemps Final,” he said.

“He’d qualified, he won his qualifier and everything was going really well, but we have bumped into an issue, which is very frustrating and that was literally the week before.

“He won’t go to Aintree or Punchestown, sadly.”

Bradley Gibbs gunning for more big-race glory at Aintree

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Fresh from Premier Magic’s Cheltenham Festival success, Bradley Gibbs has his eye on further big-race success at Aintree.

The trainer, who rides the horses as well as training them, steered Premier Magic to a 66-1 shock in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at Prestbury Park and will look to enter the winner’s enclosure again next month when Fier Jaguen attempts to extend a three-race winning run in the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase on the opening day of the Grand National Festival.

The Cheltenham-Aintree hunter chase double was last achieved by the same jockey, trainer and owner in 2015 when Nina Carberry was aboard the Enda Bolger-trained On The Fringe in the green and gold of JP McManus, while the horse would repeat the feat a year later with Jamie Codd taking over from Carberry for the Aintree segment.

Before that you have to search back to 1993 when Ron Treloggen scored aboard Reg Wilkins’ Double Silk at both meeting.

Bradley Gibbs celebrates winning The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on Premier Magic on day four of the Cheltenham Festival
Bradley Gibbs celebrates winning The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase on Premier Magic on day four of the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

However, Gibbs is optimistic he can add his name to that exclusive roll of honour with the forward-going eight-year-old, who has been in a class of his own between the flags this term.

“Fier Jaguen had done everything right so far this season,” said the Welshman.

“He’s won three opens and he’s won them all well. He looks the right type for two and a half miles. Last year I didn’t think he was quite fully seeing the three miles out, but he seems to see it out a hell of a lot better this year.

“So, I think two and a half round Aintree will be right up his street and we’ve got fingers crossed we can get a nice run out of him.

“There’s no other way to ride him other than from the front, so I’ll be going rather fast down to the first I would have thought.”

Gibbs is still coming to terms with his moment of triumph at Cheltenham earlier this month, when Premier Magic landed a blow for the British point-to-point scene against the might of Ireland and the plethora of professional handlers who run some of their elder statesman in the prestigious amateur riders’ contest.

“It still doesn’t seem real at the minute,” he continued.

“We went there last year thinking he had a nice chance and I went down the inside. I think he just got a bit of stage fright. Everything just got a bit tight and he just backed off out of it – I had only done a circuit.

“I was going to have a different mare run in it this year and she had a little issue and didn’t make it. A good mate of mine from Ireland, Jimmy Kelly – who buys all my horses for me – said put Premier Magic in there, give him one more crack and if it doesn’t work out this year, you know not to go back. That’s what we did and he obviously repaid us.”

Now thoughts turn to Aintree on April 13, where Gibbs has the chance to join the hunter chase greats.

“It would be unbelievable,” said Gibbs when asked to comprehend doing the double.

“Just to win the one is unbelievable, but I guess we’ll speak more about the double if we pull it off! Fier Jaguen goes there with a live chance so we have our fingers crossed.”