Tag Archive for: grand-national-festival

No obvious reason for Thyme Hill’s Festival disappointment

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Connections of Thyme Hill are scratching their heads to find a reason for his lacklustre run in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last week.

The nine-year-old, who had finished runner-up to Flooring Porter in last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle, went into the Grade One chase on the back of victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Having his first run since, the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained gelding finished a laboured eighth to The Real Whacker, coming home under Micheal Nolan some 35 lengths behind the winner in the extended three-mile contest.

“He was disappointing,” admitted White. “He jumped a little bit slowly and at Cheltenham that obviously puts you on the back foot between the fences.

“It just never really panned out for him. We scoped him afterwards and there was a little bit of muck there, but probably not enough to suggest that was any excuse for his below-par performance.”

The Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree opens day two of the Aintree Grand National Festival and has been pencilled in for Thyme Hill’s next run.

However, he must show he has overcome his exertions before representing the Somerset yard at the Liverpool track.

“He has come back and seems in great form and looks well,” added White. “He just didn’t travel and jump as you need to to win races at Cheltenham.

“Hopefully we can move on and get him back on a winning thread.

“It’s early days to make plans, but we will have a look at Aintree and see. Most importantly it is to ensure he’s OK.

“He’s back cantering and seems well, and a decision will be made within the next week or 10 days, but that is certainly the plan at the moment. We will discuss it with his owners and see how his well-being is and go from there.”

No National tilt for Conflated this year, with Bowl the plan at Aintree

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Conflated will attempt to go one place better than last year’s second in the Aintree Bowl following his fine performance to finish third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Taking part in the blue riband for the first time, Gordon Elliott’s Irish Gold Cup and Savills Chase hero ran a stormer in the hands of Sam Ewing – still well in the mix at two out and only giving way to the high-class front two of Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame in the closing stages.

The nine-year-old holds an entry for the Randox Grand National on April 15 with his Cullentra House handler stating he would love to have a crack at the £500,000 contest with what he believes is “one of the best-handicapped horses in the race.”

However, owners Gigginstown House Stud are preferring to hold fire on a National tilt for this year in favour of another attempt at the opening day three-mile Grade One in which Conflated finished a length second to Clan Des Obeaux 12 months ago.

“It was a fantastic run (in the Gold Cup), we were thrilled with the performance and it was a great ride,” said Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O’Leary.

“He’s a very nice horse and two very good horses beat us. But we know we have a nice horse and we’ll enjoy him while he’s around.”

When asked about the possibility of running in the National, he added: “I would say maybe next year and this year all being well he will go back to Aintree for the Bowl.

“I know Gordon says he’s well handicapped and he may well be, but if he goes back to the Bowl, hopefully we won’t meet the Gold cup first or second there. He’s better going left-handed so we would rather go to Aintree than Punchestown.”

Conflated may have to bide his time to represent the leading owners in the world’s most famous steeplechase, but one assured of his place on the teamsheet is last year’s third Delta Work.

Cheltenham Festival 2023 – Festival Wednesday – Cheltenham Racecourse
Delta Work ridden by jockey Keith Donoghue on their way to winning the Glenfarclas Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

He was sent off at 10-1 in last year’s race and despite being slowly away, took well to the challenge and was smuggled into the race under a patient ride from Jack Kennedy to stay on for a place on the podium.

The 10-year-old will now return to Merseyside off a 1lb lower mark and with one of his spring targets already secured, having defended his Glenfarclas Chase title at the Cheltenham Festival.

“The plan all year was the cross-country and then Grand National,” continued O’Leary.

“They were his two main targets and he’s got one in the bank. Now we’ll have a go at the second one all going well and as long as Gordon is happy.

“He missed the start last year which is really important for him as he doesn’t like horses around him. He had a ruck of horses around him, but ran a fantastic race to be third and hopefully he will get away better this year and give himself a chance.”

Any Second Now firmly on course for third crack at the National

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Any Second Now tuned up for this third attempt at the Randox Grand National by winning Navan’s Webster Cup for a second time.

Ted Walsh’s 11-year-old won the race by 10 lengths in 2021 before finishing third in his first crack at the Aintree marathon and having skipped Navan in favour of the Bobbyjo Chase 12 months ago, returned to the County Meath venue in top form – pulling seven lengths clear of fellow National candidate Velvet Elvis in the closing stages.

The Grade Two contest – which was originally scheduled for March 11 before being lost to the elements – is a well-used route to Liverpool by Walsh, who also won the Navan feature with Rince Ri 20 years ago and the Kill-based handler was full of praise for his stable stalwart who obliged as the 5-4 favourite.

He said: “He did it nicely, he didn’t do any more than he had to do. Denis (O’Regan) was happy with him.

“He popped away well. Got under the last a bit, the ground is very testing. When he grabbed a hold of him at the back of the last, he quickened up well.

“Each time he has gone to Aintree, his last run has been a win. It has been great to have him and he has been a model of consistency.”

Any Second Now is set to carry the top-weight of 11st 12lb in Merseyside on April 15, but despite his advancing years and that hefty weight burden off a mark 7lb higher than his current Irish figure, Walsh is happy for his veteran to take a third swing at the race having placed in the past two seasons.

He continued: “He has a month from last Saturday (until Aintree) which is grand.

“As long as he stays sound and healthy, he will go there. He has a big task with the top weight on his back.

“He wasn’t unlucky last year, a better horse on the day beat him – a horse (Noble Yeats) on the improve. He was unlucky the year before and he’ll go back and run a good race again, but everything would want to fall right for you.

“It is seven years since he won his maiden hurdle here as a four-year-old.

“He’s grand and a straightforward horse, he’s a bus of a ride.”

Any Second Now (right) ridden by Mark Walsh before going on to win the Tote Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in 2022
Any Second Now (right) ridden by Mark Walsh before going on to win the Tote Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in 2022 (Brian Lawless/PA)

Any Second Now was shortened to 16-1 from 20s for the Grand National by William Hill, while Paddy Power went 12s from 16-1.

Earlier on the card, Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief got the better of Gordon Elliott’s Landrake to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.

A winner over two and a half miles at Punchestown previously, the 6-4 favourite relished the extra two furlongs in testing conditions to set up a return to the Kildare venue for the Festival next month.

“I’m delighted with that, he’s a lovely horse,” said De Bromhead.

“I like the way he ground it out there. He’s still a baby, but he is improving all the time.

Senior Chief after winning at Navan
Senior Chief after winning at Navan (PA)

“He only needs to land there, you wouldn’t want to be getting there too soon.

“It does look like that (stay all day), but yet he has a gear as well, funny enough. He was only just beaten in a two mile maiden hurdle in Clonmel.

“He’s qualified for the Red Mills auction final at Punchestown, so he’s entitled to go there. We wanted to get him a bit more experience.”

I’d run Conflated in the National if he was mine, says Elliott

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Gordon Elliott would love to see Conflated take his chance in the Randox Grand National – but does not expect to see the Irish Gold Cup winner line up in the Aintree marathon.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old backed up his Leopardstown Savills Chase success with a fine run in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Friday, finishing third to Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame. A further length and a quarter back in fourth was 2022 National hero Noble Yeats.

Conflated is no stranger to Aintree, having been second to Clan Des Obeaux in the Bowl 12 months ago.

A big thumbs up from owner Michael O'Leary after Conflated's Irish Gold Cup victory
A big thumbs up from owner Michael O’Leary after Conflated’s Irish Gold Cup victory (Niall Carson/PA)

Elliott said: “He could go back to Aintree.

“If he was mine, he would run in the Grand National – I think he’s one of the best-handicapped horses in the race, but I don’t think I’ll get my way!”

Also in the mix for Aintree is Gerri Colombe, who finished off the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in tremendous fashion but was a short-head down on The Real Whacker at the line.

“He is (still a top-class prospect). It just didn’t happen for him on the day,” said the Cullentra handler.

“You could see him in Aintree for the three-miler (Mildmay Novices’ Chase).”

Another on the team for Liverpool could be Mighty Potter, who was third to Stage Star in the Turners Novices’ Chase as the odds-on favourite.

Elliott said: “He was a little bit stiff. He’s had a trot this morning.

“All being well, he could have Aintree, Fairyhouse for the Powers Gold Cup, or Punchestown.

“We’ll see how he is at the end of the week.”

Banbridge booked for Aintree after missing Cheltenham

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Banbridge and Nusret will both be heading to Aintree as Joseph O’Brien shuffles his pack following the Cheltenham Festival.

The former was a staying on second in the Irish Arkle when last sighted and was declared to run in the Turners Novices’ Chase won by Stage Star before the ground at Prestbury Park went against him on the day of the race.

He will now be redirected to Liverpool where both the opening day Manifesto Novices’ Chase (April 13) over two and a half miles and the shorter Eft Systems Maghull Novices’ Chase on Grand National Day are possible options.

Meanwhile, Nusret – who was among the favourites for the Boodles before swerving the Festival – will be set a Grade One assignment in the Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle having picked up the Adonis at Kempton on his last raiding mission to the UK.

“Banbridge will go to Aintree all being well,” said O’Brien. “He will have entries in the two-mile race and the two-and-a-half and he’ll run in one of those.”

“Nusret is going to Aintree as well. It will be a lovely race to run him in.

“I think he’s right in the mix with the UK runners and I think he’s right in the mix with his Irish form as well.”

Home By The Lee is another who could make O’Brien’s teamsheet for the Grand National Festival following his brave effort in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

The eight-year-old rallied with great credit after making a juddering mid-race error and was a staying-on fifth at the line – beaten just shy of four lengths behind the victorious Sire Du Berlais.

The Liverpool Hurdle (April 15) is now a possibility along with the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival (April 27) and an enterprising Channel-hopping trip to Auteuil for the Grande Course De Hures D’Auteuil (May 20).

“He didn’t get the rub of the green and was lucky to stand up with the mistake he made, but he has come out of the race well,” continued O’Brien.

“He has options in Aintree, Punchestown and in France – the French Champion Hurdle.”

Staying closer to home, however, is one-time Derby favourite High Definition who got somewhat bogged down in the soft ground in the Festival-opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

High Definition could step up in trip after getting stuck in the soft ground at the Cheltenham Festival
High Definition could step up in trip after getting stuck in the soft ground at the Cheltenham Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Owning Hill handler is yet to decide whether he steps the classy son of Galileo up in trip for his next outing or persists over the minimum distance – but he is on course to be seen at either Fairyhouse for their April Easter Festival or Punchestown later in the month.

“He just got stuck in the tacky ground a bit,” O’Brien added.

“He jumped well all the way, but JJ (Slevin, jockey) said he knew after he had jumped two hurdles he was struggling a bit in the sticky going.

“We’re looking at both options (in terms of trip) and he has options in Fairyhouse and Punchestown.”

Tzarmix and Shomen Uchi make it a good day for Sam Thomas

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Sam Thomas has plenty to look forward to having enjoyed a fruitful time at Chepstow on Sunday, saddling a double at his local course.

Based at The Hollies on the outskirts of Cardiff, the Gold Cup-winning jockey has sent more of his string to Chepstow than any other track since joining the training ranks – a move that paid dividend when Tzarmix took the opening Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle.

Sent off at 16-5 against Tolworth Hurdle second L’Astroboy, Tzarmix was smuggled into the race by Harry Cobden before taking dead aim and running down his rival when Evan Williams’ odds-on favourite – who had traded at the minimum 1.01 on Betfair – tired after the last.

“We are thrilled with him, he’s a work in progress,” said Thomas.

“I don’t want to get too carried away, the second horse was out in front a long time and in those conditions it probably didn’t suit him. It’s nice to go and beat a well-touted horse, but I just hope the handicapper doesn’t take it literally. It’s a lonely old place up in front at Chepstow and it’s nice we had something to aim at rather than the other way round really.

“Harry has ridden him to run well basically and I think if he had ridden him to win he wouldn’t have won so it’s funny how it worked out.”

The winner will be left to swim in calm waters for the time being – given plenty of time to continue his racing education.

“He’s got so much still to learn,” Thomas continued. “He doesn’t jump the most fluently and show his hurdles respect at the minute so he has got a lot of practice to do at home. He has always been the same, he doesn’t have much regard for a hurdle.

“Hopefully as he picks up more runs he will learn on the job alongside his practice at home. But he’s clearly got an engine and is very much a work in progress.”

Another of the Thomas string held in high regard is Shomen Uchi, who sailed to to an easy 11-length victory in Cazoo Maiden Hurdle – Charlie Deutsch simply having to point the 11-10 favourite in the right direction.

After running with credit at Aintree in the Grade Two bumper last term, Shomen Uchi could return to the Merseyside track during the Grand National Festival next month.

“It’s only a maiden at the back-end of march so I don’t want to get too carried away, but he’s a horse I’m very fond of,” said Thomas.

“For whatever reason we haven’t been able to get him out as much as I would have wanted this season, but he’s very talented and loves soft ground. He will be a lovely staying chaser in time.

“I’ve always thought a lot of him and it just goes to show, if you are not over-racing them, what they can achieve – the more time we give this horse the better he will be.

“We’ll see if the handicapper gives us a mark now and if it is a rating that would warrant us going to one of the handicaps we will consider Aintree, but it is not the be-all and end-all if we don’t go there.”

Ahoy Senor heading to Aintree if all goes to plan

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Ahoy Senor will head to the Bowl at Aintree should he get over his Cheltenham Gold Cup fall.

The Lucinda Russell-trained eight-year-old was among the top British novice chasers last season, and signed off with a clear-cut win in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, where he defeated the likes of Grade One winner L’Homme Presse and subsequent King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame.

Though having found life tougher this term, he bounced back after a disappointing King George run to land the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

Friday’s return to Prestbury Park was going well as he was full of running when leading the Gold Cup field to five fences from home under Derek Fox, where he got in too close and had a heavy fall.

However, Russell’s assistant and partner, eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore, said he is none the worse for the tumble.

“He’s a bit sorry for himself. He’s sound and everything. He is that type of horse. I think he feels almost embarrassed he fell, but he’s well and a couple of days and he’ll be over it. There are no physical issues,” said Scudamore.

“He ran really well. He will probably go to Aintree, God willing. He has got four weeks, so if he can recover from that, he’ll run.

“We’d always felt we’d go to Aintree with him after this. He’s got a week of quiet and a probably a fortnight working, then another quiet week before his race.

“The extra week between the two meetings this year will certainly be a help.”

The defeat was a bitter blow following the high of Corach Rambler taking the Ultima Handicap Chase for a second consecutive year for the yard.

Corach Rambler and Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima for a second time
Corach Rambler and Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima for a second time (Mike Egerton/PA)

Though the nine-year-old had a hard race in defeating Fastorslow by a neck and scoring for the fourth time in nine attempts over fences, he is still on course for the Randox Grand National on April 15, for which he is as short as 6-1 favourite.

Speaking from Carlisle on Sunday, Scudamore added: “Corach has lost a bit of weight, but I haven’t ridden him yet.

“I spoke to him last night and he’s very pleased with himself. It’s still the Grand National all being well.”

Blazing Khal possible for Aintree or Punchestown

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Blazing Khal could get the chance to bounce back at either Aintree or Punchestown having seen his winning run come to an end at the Cheltenham Festival.

Charles Byrnes’ seven-year-old headed to the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle unbeaten in five and with a glistening CV having scored twice at the track and impressed in the Boyne Hurdle when tuning up for Festival action.

Despite a cut suffered in that Navan victory causing its problems in the build up to his Prestbury Park assignment, Blazing Khal was still a popular choice with punters and was sent off the 9-2 second-favourite for the feature race on day three.

Attempting to follow in the footsteps of Solwhit, who triumphed for Byrnes in the 2013 edition, Blazing Khal was well positioned jumping the second-last and was travelling smoothly for the handler’s son Philip alongside Teahupoo as the field rounded the turn for home.

But whereas Gordon Elliott’s 9-4 favourite would go one to play a significant hand in the finish, Blazing Khal came under pressure approaching the last and then faded up the hill to finish sixth, beaten just over 11 lengths.

He is now set for an easy few weeks to get over his Cheltenham exertions before connections plot their next move – with Byrnes favouring the easier three miles of the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle Hurdle on Grand National Day (April 15) over the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival (April 27).

“He’s OK. He just didn’t seem to stay up the hill, he got very tired from the last till home,” said Byrnes.

“We’ll give him the chance to get over that for a couple of weeks and then make a plan.

“He’s got two options – he can go to Aintree or he can go to Punchestown. I’m probably favouring Aintree because it is the easier three miles, but we will see in a few weeks.”

Despite winning twice at Cheltenham previously, Blazing Khal disappointed in the Stayers' Hurdle (
Despite winning twice at Cheltenham previously, Blazing Khal disappointed in the Stayers’ Hurdle (Zac Goodwin/PA)

When asked if the interrupted preparations had a baring on Blazing Khal’s performance, Byrnes added: “I’d say it definitely played it’s part, but he just didn’t seem to stay the distance.

“It definitely didn’t help, but that being said he was well beaten and I don’t want to make too many excuses.

“We’ll freshen him up now and try and get another good run out of him.”

National tilt off the agenda now for Hewick after Cheltenham fall

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Hewick will not run in the Randox Grand National after his crashing fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has revealed.

The popular eight-year-old, who shot to prominence when taking the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, was running a storming race in racing’s blue riband and enjoying himself towards the head of the field under Jordan Gainford.

In the process of belying his odds of 40-1 with a tremendous performance, the Galway Plate and American Grand National winner unfortunately came to grief two out.

“We are very proud of the horse and thanks be to God he’s OK. He was going so well,” said Hanlon.

“He always hits a flat spot and he was just after coming out of it, and Jordan was very convinced that, while he might not have beaten the winner, he said, ‘I thought we might have been second’.”

With ground conditions softer than ideal, Hanlon was in two minds about running him against Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame.

He added: “If only the ground was better. He needs good ground and the ground would have been too soft for him, but he gave a goodish account of himself.

“I’d say the ground hasn’t been as soft for seven or eight years on the Friday.

“It was a tough decision to run. We walked the track twice – once at seven o’clock in the morning and again at 11 o’clock – and it was amazing how much it dried out between seven and eleven.

“He’d handle good ground. But in our country it would have been yielding to soft. It was tacky ground.”

Hewick will be given time to overcome his exertions and while Aintree is almost certainly off the agenda, Hanlon has not ruled out bringing him back for a defence of his bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown or the Punchestown Gold Cup.

He said: “He’s good now, thanks be to God. We are happy to have him home because he got an awful fall.

“He won’t go to the National. I would be 99 per cent sure. We’ll see how he is, but he has had such a fall. We’ll probably end up going back to Punchestown for the Gold Cup.

“He’ll have better ground and it’s six weeks from now.”

Hewick, who was purchased for a mere £800, loved the quicker conditions when taking the valuable prize at Sandown’s traditional end-of-season finale last year.

Jockey Jordan Gainford and Shark Hanlon could head back to Sandown
Jockey Jordan Gainford (left) and Shark Hanlon (second left) could head back to Sandown (Nigel French/PA)

While the extended three-mile Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup may be the preferred option, a return to Sandown has not ben ruled out for the gelding who has earned just shy of £400,000 for owner TJ McDonald.

“I wouldn’t mind going back to the bet365 Gold Cup. I will talk to the owners and see,” added Hanlon. “He’ll either go for the (Punchestown) Gold Cup or the bet365 – he’ll go one way or the other.”

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was Hewick’s first run since taking the American National at Far Hills in October and the County Carlow handler felt that while he needed the break, he may navigate another path back to Prestbury Park next season.

Hanlon added: “We will go different next year. We will probably give him a run maybe at the Dublin Festival, because he hadn’t had a run for six months, which was a long time, but I’m not sorry we didn’t give him a run, because he needed his break.

“Listen, we are thrilled with him and everyone got a buzz out of it. He’s the people’s horse, but because of the fall, the National has gone.

“He lives to fight another day and we know we have a good horse. He’s entitled to be there at Cheltenham again next year to have another go.”

Harris looking to Aintree with Triumph absentee Scriptwriter

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Milton Harris will target Aintree with Scriptwriter after he failed to line up in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday due to scoping dirty.

Scriptwriter contested Group races on the Flat for Aidan O’Brien and has become a decent hurdler. In the care of the Wilshire handler, he is one of the leading British juveniles.

Winner of Cheltenham’s Grade Two Triumph Hurdle Trial in November, the four-year-old reverted to the Flat to win at Wolverhampton on his next outing before returning to Cheltenham to find only Comfort Zone too good.

He carried a penalty for his Grade Two success when beaten favourite in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton and while not near his best, Harris had hoped he would bounce back in the Triumph.

Scriptwriter will now head to Aintree in a bid to emulate Knight Salute, who capped a remarkable juvenile season by landing the Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle at the Grand National meeting last year.

“Scriptwriter is fine,” said Harris. “He will now go to the Grade One at Aintree.

“It was just that the scope wasn’t clean, and it was not worth the trouble.

“It’s a pity as I was hopeful he’d run a nice race and show us the form we know he is capable of. We’ll be all right, don’t worry.”

Knight Salute, who was last seen finishing third in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November, is still battling to recover from a major injury after an operation the following month.

“He had to have a rotten tooth taken out under anaesthetic and he injured himself getting up after,” said Harris. “He’s obviously out for the season and we’ll do what’s best for him.

“It’s a huge shame, but it shows you how fragile these brilliant animals are.”