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Old Roan Chase |
Cracking Renewal of totetentofollow Old Roan Chase in Prospect at Aintree 20/10/09
With the 2009/10 Jump season now starting to step up a gear, Aintree plays host to two days of quality action this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25.
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Taking centre stage at the two-day meeting is the £60,000 Grade Two totetentofollow Old Roan Chase (2.15pm) on Saturday. The two and a half mile limited handicap is the first race in the £100,000 Order of Merit, the series of 70 major races throughout the Jumps season.
A dozen entries have been received for the totetentofollow Old Roan Chase, including the latest two winners Knowhere (2008) and Monet’s Garden (2007).
Also engaged is the high-class Tidal Bay from the Howard Johnson stable. The eight-year-old was twice successful in Grade One company during the 2007/08 season including in the Grade John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree, but was not at his best last season and was last seen out when fifth to Voy Por Ustedes in the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree on April 3.
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Johnson is hoping that Tidal Bay can prove his well-being at Aintree on Saturday and return to the form that had some quarters advancing his claims as a challenger to Kauto Star and Denman.
The County Durham trainer revealed today: “We are looking forward to getting Tidal Bay back on the racecourse. We had him hobdayed through the summer and we are hoping that has tidied him up. I would say at the minute that he will probably be our standard bearer this year.
“He jumped a few fences indoors this morning and looked good. He’ll school outdoors if it keeps drizzling like it is now and he will have a piece of work with Denis O’Regan up, probably tomorrow. If I’m happy and the ground is alright, we’ll go to Aintree.
“He is training well and we’ll weigh him on Wednesday. He actually looks like he’s carrying a lot more condition this year, which is good because he always looks gorky.”
Johnson is pleased with the form of his stable at present, which boasts a 33% strike rate this month, with nine wins from 27 runners.
He said: “The horses in general are alright, I’m happy enough with them, it’s just that we haven’t been able to get on the grass yet. The ground has been too firm and the racecourses don’t help us trainers in the northeast because they won’t let us work our horses on the tracks.”
Tom George has two exciting contenders, the classy Nacarat, who finished third in the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree on April 3 and Tartak, who landed the inaugural running of the Grade Two John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase over the course and distance on April 2.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has two entries with Kicks For Free, a winner at this meeting last year and Oslot, whose biggest success came in the 2008 Galway Plate.
David Pipe could be represented by Tamarinbleu, runner-up in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park last season, while there is possible Irish interest in the shape of the Tom Taaffe-trained Finger Onthe Pulse, who enjoyed his finest hour when landing the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival.
Other possible starters include the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push It, who was last seen out when successful in the John Smith’s Handicap Chase at Aintree on April 4, Three Mirrors and Laskari.
Saturday’s card features seven races, starting at 1.05pm with the £18,000 totejackpot Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles which has received 19 entries.
The main supporting action is the £30,000 toteswinger Veterans’ Handicap Chase (1.40pm) over three miles and a furlong. Restricted to horses aged 10 and over, the 14 entries include old favourites such as Lacdoudal, Cornish Sett and Simon.
Sunday, October 25, features a six-race programme, with the highlight of the card being the £20,000 Radio City 96.7 Handicap Chase (3.20pm) over two miles, which has received 15 entries. Sunday is designated “Matalan Freaky Family Funday”. With Halloween just around the corner, there will be a number of spooky attractions on offer including a 'Thriller' performance and dance workshop by Britain's Got Talent dance troupe MD Productions, magic shows, fairground rides and Halloween crafts, while there will also be both a kids and an adults' fancy dress competition.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.aintree.co.uk or by calling 0844 579 3001. Tickets cost £19 with FREE admission for all accompanied children aged 16 and under.
GOING
The going at Aintree is currently GOOD.
Andrew Tulloch, Aintree’s Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, said: “We had three millimetres of rain last night into Monday morning and we are forecast to receive around four to five millimetres of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
“We undertook some watering last week and over the weekend, which has helped maintain the course. Fortunately, there were a couple of very wet days earlier this month and this has been very good for the course.
“We will keep an eye on conditions and water again if it is necessary. Our aim is to produce good ground for this weekend.
“I am very pleased with the state of the course, it is looking in great shape.”
