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Old Roan Chase 2010 |
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racing news /
Melling Hero Albertas Run Set to Return in Old Roan Chase
14/10/10
Aintree’s new season of racing starts off with a bang on Saturday, October 23, with seven races beginning at 2.10pm, headed by the £60,000 totescoop6 Old Roan Chase (3.20pm), and continues the following day, Sunday, October 24, with six races on Matalan Freaky Family Funday.
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The Grade Two totescoop6 Old Roan Chase, a limited handicap with a weight range from 10st 4lb to 11st 10lb has attracted high-class runners since it was founded in 2004. Last year’s renewal was won by the popular grey Monet’s Garden under top-weight of 11st 10lb, the second time he had been successful in the race as he also triumphed in 2007 over the 2006 winner Kauto Star, who became a champion when successful in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in both 2007 and 2009. Nicky Richards, trainer of Monet’s Garden, revealed this week that the evergreen 12-year-old will bid for a third totescoop6 Old Roan Chase victory this year.
Last year’s renewal even yielded a John Smith’s Grand National winner in Don’t Push It who came fourth in the two and a half mile chase on his seasonal debut for jockey Tony McCoy, trainer Jonjo O’Neill and owner JP McManus.
Don’t Push It switched from the Mildmay Course in October to the Grand National fences when returning to Aintree on April 10 this year and coming out on top in the £925,000 John Smith’s Grand National over four and a half miles.
McCoy shed tears after victory on his 15th attempt in the world’s most famous jump and the now 15-time champion jump jockey is one of the leading contenders for BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December.
Jonjo O’Neill is likely to be represented in the 2010 renewal of the totescoop6 Old Chase with Albertas Run. The nine-year-old enjoyed a lucrative 2009/10 campaign, which culminated with two Grade One victories in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree on April 9, a race which takes place over the same two and a half mile trip as the totescoop6 Old Roan Chase.
Mick Meagher, racing manager to Albertas Run’s owner Trevor Hemmings, revealed today: “The plan is for Albertas Run to run in the totescoop6 Old Roan Chase. Jonjo seems quite happy with him at the moment and he will hopefully start his campaign at Aintree.
“We were delighted with him last season and, if you can’t be pleased about winning two Grade One chases, then you might as well give up the job.
“He will start off over two and a half miles again but we are not ruling out stepping him back up to three miles again. He won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham (in 2008) and was second to Kauto Star in the King George Chase, so we know he stays further in the top races.
“Nice ground is the key for him, rather than the trip. He will probably have top-weight at Aintree but Jonjo has been pleased with his progress and we will see how he gets on there before deciding where to go with him.”
Full details of exciting tickets offers for the weekend’s racing are available at www.aintree.co.uk and best value is to be had by booking in advance.
On Sunday, October 24, the grown-ups can enjoy the day’s exciting races, which start at 2.10pm, while the little devils prepare for Halloween with an action-packed day full of FREE entertainment, including: mad science shows and experiments; magician and free face painting; kids and adults’ fancy dress competition; pony rides and grooming plus much, much more.
Accompanied children aged under 17 gain FREE admission on both days, while there is also FREE car parking at the course.
