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Tom George Lauds Tartak's totescoop6 Old Roan Chase Credentials
20/10/10

Trainer Tom George believes that Tartak (10st 9lb) has an “outstanding chance” of winning the £60,000 Grade Two totescoop6 Old Roan Chase on Saturday, October 23, providing the gelding turns up for the two and a half-mile Aintree contest with all cylinders firing.

Tartak
© Grossick Racing Photography

The seven-year-old has done well over the course and distance, winning the Grade Two John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase 18 months ago and finishing a fine fourth over the trip at Aintree in the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase on April 9.

That latter effort saw him carry level weights with his rivals, including the victorious Albertas Run (11st 10lb), who reopposes on 15lb worse terms for a little over five lengths. Third that day was Monet’s Garden (11st 7lb) - now seeking a third totescoop6 Old Roan Chase triumph - and he has to concede 12lb for only three-quarters of a length.

George revealed this morning: “The plan is to run Tartak, as two and a half miles around Aintree seems to suit him. He has an outstanding chance at the weights but if he comes out as ring rusty as he was when last of eight in the race last year, he won’t win anything.

“He was very stuffy to begin with last season, so we took that into account this year and have tried to get him so that he’s firing earlier. We have done plenty with him so, while there are no guarantees with horses, hopefully he will go there sharper. My horses do tend to improve for a run though.”

In an attempt to counter any early season lethargy, Tartak returned to training at George’s Gloucestershire yard earlier than usual this summer.

The Slad trainer continued: “He has summered well, we have had him in since the beginning of July so he’s had plenty of time. We have given him about six schooling sessions on the grass and the schooling has been excellent, so we are hoping to take on where he left off, rather than where he started last season when he was a bit stop-start.

“The other problem we had last season was trying to work out his optimum (conditions). We dropped him back to two miles and stepped him up to three miles in the King George, but two and a half on a flat track appears to be his absolute optimum at the moment - Aintree over two and half seems to be ideal.

“He was unlucky not to win the totesport.com Peterborough Chase last season when he slipped three from home and finished second to Deep Purple. The only times we actually had him right and were happy with him last season were at Aintree and Huntingdon.

“After Aintree, the totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon would again be very high on the list. We might fit something in between, but now we know what his optimum is, we might as well stick to that with him.”

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Albertas Run proved himself the star turn at around two and a half miles last term. His Aintree triumph in April was complemented by a four and a half-length success over the Paul Nicholls-trained Poquelin (11st 6lb) in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Monet’s Garden is one of Jump racing’s old favourites and the Nicky Richards-trained 12-year-old will attempt to add to his previous totescoop6 Old Roan Chase wins achieved in 2007 and 2009.

Other runners of note among the 12 entries are the David Pipe-trained I’msingingtheblues (10st 10lb) and the Tim Walford-trained Master Medic (10st 8lb)

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.

On Sunday, October 24, the grown-ups can enjoy the day’s exciting races, 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.

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