The Aintree Festival, for many, is a meeting that really
rewards course form and never is that more true than over the famous National
fences. Today’s Topham Chase (3.40) has
been won for the last three years by Peter Bowen’s Always Waining, who would
have been a very strong favourite today had it not been for connections’
decision to take a shot at the Grand National in what could conceivably be his
last season of racing as a 12yo. Always Waining was a notable poster card of
Bowen’s talents, with his mark usually being kept down by running in 3m handicap hurdles or chases
unsuitably soft ground , and today’s favourite – also running for Bowen – bears
much similarity. Gullible Gordon – a very useful chaser for Paul Nicholls
before he moved yards, was an excellent sixth in the Becher Chase in December,
going well before fading after his tank hit empty after the last. On much less
testing conditions today than his well beaten effort at Sandown he ought to
make a bold bid, but preference is for Tartak, who blew a blood vessel last
year when a distant 15th in this, and has been dropping in his mark
steadily since then. Rated 153 then, he now arrives here a full 23lbs lower in
the handicap, all after runs which have indicated he’s ready to run to the sort
of form which saw him contest Graded chases for a good two seasons – including
when fourth in the Melling Chase for the last two years – and with his record
on good ground and faster considerably better than that on ground with cut in
it, he makes considerable appeal especially after his excellent run in the
Bryne Group Plate at Cheltenham, when he was clear best of the rest behind the
first two (form franked by Hunt Ball yesterday at Taunton in good style) set
him up perfectly for this. Thanks to the early closing for races like this,
he’s actually received a 4lbs drop in the handicap for today’s event, and one
could easily look at him as the best handicapped horse in the field.
Chance Du Roy – who was second last year and is now 2lbs
lower in the handicap following a campaign that has been aimed at just this
event – and Little Josh – who was a tenacious C&D winner in December and is
only 4lbs higher – both deserve serious respect in an open renewal, although
none are quite as well in on their best form as Tartak.
With some upsets yesterday, the race for top trainer and
jockey is far more open with the domination that some combinations enjoyed at
Cheltenham far removed, but Nicky Henderson’s strong hand today – he has My
Tent Or Yours and Sprinter Sacre at a combined 1.96 in the 2m Novice Hurdle and
Melling Chase – makes appeal to land top trainer honours for the meeting, While
Ruby Walsh – who may lie one behind Brendan Powell in the table but has two
third places to his name along with Zarkandar’s win and several strong chances
over the next two days – makes appeal along with Tony McCoy – who has two short
priced chances today and plenty spread around the handicaps.
Advice
1 pt each/way Tartak, 3.40 Aintree (14/1 Bet365, Stan James)
3 pts Nicky Henderson to be top trainer (4/6 Bet365)
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