 |
 |
|
|
|
Old Roan Chase 2010 |
| Tweet |
racing news /
Master Medic to be Tested in Old Roan Chase
19/10/10
Tim Walford is set to test new recruit Master Medic in what is shaping to be a tremendous renewal of the £60,000 Grade Two totescoop6 Old Roan Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree on Saturday, October 23.
The nine-year-old moved to Walford’s Yorkshire yard after the retirement of Robert and Sally Alner, for who he won four races on the bounce, culminating with a smart victory in the Listed Byrne Group Handicap Chase over two miles, one furlong at Ascot last October.
Master Medic has not raced since being pulled up over three miles behind Kauto Star in the Grade One King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The trainer revealed today: “I think we will run Master Medic in the totescoop6 Old Roan Chase. He will either go there or to the Charlie Hall Chase the next weekend. Looking through his form, he may get three miles but it’s not totally proven, so that’s why I’m leaning towards Aintree rather than Wetherby.
“He won twice at Ascot last year over two miles and a furlong, and he looked as if he might be better over two and a half. He might be even better at three miles but I don’t know that, so I would sooner start him off over two and a half and see what happens.
“We’re up against it and he has come from a very good trainer, so whether I can improve him is debatable. He had a good season last year and has gone up in the weights as a result, so we have limited options, but he is in good form.”
Walford’s son, Robert, and daughter-in-law Louise (Robert and Sally Alner’s daughter), have joined Master Medic in the move from Dorset to Yorkshire and are key team players. Robert has partnered the gelding in 10 of his 12 career starts.
Walford continued: “Louise does all the work with him and she is happy with him. He is eating nicely and he is relaxed. We have had him about six or eight weeks now and he has settled in brilliantly. Our gallops are so totally different to the Alners’ that Robert (Walford) says it’s very difficult to assess in comparison to how he was last year. He’s fit enough and has done two nice bits of work. He looks great so I’m happy with him.
“He wants it good - that seems to be the key to him. He hated the ground in the King George last year, he couldn’t go a stride on it. We have schooled him and Robert says the obstacles are no problem - they are big jumps round there, even on the Mildmay Course, but he is a big horse.
“It’s the first time I’ve had a proper Saturday horse, so it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”
The totescoop6 Old Roan Chase has attracted a fantastic 12-strong entry, headed by the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Albertas Run, a course and distance winner in April when following up his Ryanair Chase success with victory in the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase.
 |
Also among the entries is the Paul Nicholls-trained Grade Three Boylesport.com Gold Cup winner Poquelin and the Tom George-trained Tartak, who won the Grade Two John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase over the distance in April, 2009.
Saturday’s seven-race card also features the £25,000 totetentofollow.co.uk Veteran’s Handicap Chase (4.35pm) and an entry of 15 for the three mile, one furlong contest includes the John Quinn-trained Character Building, who was seventh behind Don’t Push It in this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.
The action gets underway with the extended two-mile £14,000 toteplacepot Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm), and the 22 entries include the Alan King-trained Mille Chief, as well as Kauto Star’s half-brother Kauto Relko, who could make his first start for new trainer Rachel Hobbs.
Aintree also races on Sunday, October 24, when the six-race card is headed by the £15,000 Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase (for the John Parrett Memorial Trophy). Racing kicks off at 2.10pm with the Halloween At Matalan Introductory Juvenile Hurdle, for which an entry of 24 includes the current ante-post favourite for next year’s Triumph Hurdle, Franklino, from the stable of Alan King.
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.
LATEST GOING
The going at Aintree is currently GOOD.
Andrew Tulloch, Aintree’s Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, said today: “We had a light shower this morning and the forecast is for an unsettled week.
“We are due showers tonight with Tuesday looking a bit drier. Showers are predicted again for Wednesday and we will water if necessary. The aim is for nice jumping ground for the start of the season.”
