Major race entries 2008: Grand National | 2000 Guineas | 1000 Guineas | Derby | Oaks

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Tuesday 1 April 2008

Howard Johnson's Arkle Trophy winner Tidal Bay could join the star-studded lineup for the John Smith's Melling Chase on Friday, which is headed by Champion Chase winner Master Minded.

"I'm tempted to get it out of the way this season to see which way to go next season and take Master Minded on," Johnson told the Racing Post. "Then I will know if I have to keep out of the road of him because he could be a thorn in this horse's side."

Last year's Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott has a number of runners with live chances in their respective races.

Salford City, the 2004 Epsom Derby fifth and a Grade Two winner over hurdles in Ireland, is reported by the Irish trainer to be in top shape ahead of Friday's Littlewoods Direct Imagine Appeal Top Novices' Hurdle. "He's in great form. He worked very well around Fairyhouse with Nina
(Carberry) last Monday (March 24). I was very happy with him and he'll run on Friday, provided the ground is on the soft side of good," explained Elliott.

"It looks like a hot contest with Captain Cee Bee and a couple of others but if the ground comes up to suit, he'll jump out and make it. We would be hoping that he would get placed. Nina will ride him again."

Harper Valley, entered in Thursday's Grade One John Smith's 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle, had his final prep race ahead of Aintree on the Flat at Dundalk on Friday and recovered his best form after a below-par run at Musselburgh in February with a comprehensive win in an extended mile and a half handicap. Conceding weight to his 10 rivals, he threw down his challenge entering the straight before quickening away to score by four and a half lengths.

Elliott added: "Harper Valley won very well at Dundalk and I was more than pleased with him. He has come out of his run in great form. Like a lot of our runners, if the ground is on the quick side he won't run, but I'd be hopeful that it will be okay and that he will run a good race."

Elliott has also entered Newton Bridge, a runner-up on his last two starts, in the Listed John Smith's Handicap Hurdle on Thursday, but the seven-year-old might not make the cut: "Newton Bridge might struggle to get in to the John Smith's Handicap Hurdle, but there's the £40,000 John Smith's Winner's Tipple Novices' Handicap Chase for amateur riders on Saturday and, if he gets into that, he will run and won't be too far away. Nina will ride him as well. He is also in good form and came out of his run over hurdles at Fairyhouse well. He ran a great race there and is fit and well."

Meanwhile, Tom Taaffe, who will be represented in Saturday's feature by both Slim Pickings and Tumbling Dice, is hoping for a big run from his In The High Grass in Friday's John Smith's Topham Chase over the National fences.

A winner on his latest start in a Listed three-mile chase at Cork, In The High Grass will carry 10st 4lb in the extended two miles and five furlong contest should the Michael Hourigan-trained top-weight Hi Cloy stand his ground.

"In The High Grass was confirmed this morning for the John Smith's Grand National as well and it will literally be a 9.55am decision on Friday morning but at the moment he is going for the John Smith's Topham Chase.

"If he gets into the National, he will go there. He has a great chance of getting in because he now goes to the top of the 10st 6lb horses.

"He won well at Cork - a slightly different type of fence and there will be a few more runners at Aintree but he has been schooling over Aintree style fences and he is very good in that department.

"I'd like genuine, nice ground. Irish good to yielding or good, safe ground would do me for all my runners over the three days. He has a good competitive weight for both races."

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Monday 31 March 2008

Donald McCain believes that Cloudy Lane is a worthy favourite for the John Smith's Grand National - but his price is plenty short enough. The trainer told At The Races: "I don't think any horse should be 6-1 for the National five weeks before the race like he was, but I can also see that the bookmakers didn't really have a choice because he is 20lb well-in. Nothing has really come out of the pack, apart from David Pipe's horse Comply Or Die, who won at Newcastle, so it's a case of finding one to back against him."

J.P. McManus has four entries in the National, and retained jockey A.P. McCoy has opted to ride Butler's Cabin, on whom he won last year's Irish Grand National. McCoy could switch to Arthur Moore's King Johns Castle if the ground comes up soft, whilst Mick Fitzgerald will ride Francois Doumen's L'Ami. Riding plans for Bob Hall have yet to be finalised.

Charlei Longsdon's Songe, fourth in the Triumph Hurdle, could take on older horses in the John Smith's Imagine Appeal Top Novices' Hurdle on Friday. Longsdon told the Racing Posthe plans to bypass the 4yo hurdle: “If Songe goes for the four-year-olds' race, he's got to make up eight or nine lengths on Celestial Halo and, while I think he's improved for his run in the Triumph, that's a fair margin to turn around.”

Alan King's Franchoek could also line up in the race. The McManus-owned four-year-old will leave Binocular - in the same ownership - to take on Celestal Halo in the 4yo contest.

Whiteoak franked the Doncaster form shown by Tazbar, and Keith Reveley's charge lines up in Friday's Citroen C5 Sefton Novices' Hurdle. Nenuphar Collonges and Middleton Dene could also run - trainer Nicky Richards says the latter is "a pretty high-class horse.”

Paul Nicholls has confirmed that both Master Minded and Kauto Star will run at Aintree after satisfactory workouts on Saturday.

Kauto Star will run in the totesport Bowl over three miles and a furlong, whilst Master Minded will step up to two and a half miles in theJohn Smith's Melling Chase.

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Saturday 29 March 2008

Nicky Richards has been formulating his plans for Aintree, with hat-trick winner Palomar figuring prominently. "Palomar will run in either the two-and-a-half-mile John Smith's Handicap Hurdle or the two-mile handicap hurdle (John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle)," the Greystoke handler told PA Sport. "The track should suit him well. I thought he ran a very nice race in the Imperial Cup, he got interfered with twice and the way he has to be ridden means you have to have luck in running in these big handicaps."

The trainer continued: "Faasel will run in the three-mile hurdle (John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle) as Inglis Drever might scare everybody away. Modicum could go in the two-mile novice chase (Maghull) and I think he is a good horse. He's run three real solid chases. Rayshan will run in a three-mile handicap chase (totepool Handicap)."

The weather will determine whether Coral Cup winner Naiad Du Misselot lines up next week. "We're just going to have a look at it. We're not sure which way we are going to go," said trainer Ferdy Murphy. "He could go to Punchestown next month but we've put him in a couple of races at Aintree. He's a good, tough, little horse but the ground may be on the lively side for him at Aintree. We are playing it by ear at the moment."

The John Smith's 250th Anniversary four-year-old Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday could see Triumph Hurdle first and second Celestial Halo and JP McManus's Franchoek fight it out once more. McManus also owns Binocular, who could represent the Henderson yard in the race.

"Binocular, I think and hope, will go to Aintree for the four-year-old hurdle," said Henderson on At The Races. "I don't know what Franchoek and Celestial Halo are going to do. He ran a smashing race in the Supreme, they were switched around for obvious reasons and it made total sense.As it turned out it didn't quite suit us in the end. He's got the pace for Aintree, he's come out of the race OK and if Celestial Halo goes there I would be very happy to take him on."

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Thursday 27 March 2008

Edward Harty is preparing Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Captain Cee Bee for a tilt at the John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle.

The trainer told PA Sport: "Captain Cee Bee came out if it very well and he didn't like the ground that day, it has to be said. It was only really when they met the rising ground on the run to the last that he actually started to enjoy himself. He battled well up the hill, which is where he was getting his ground, so it was pleasing to see that. I would think he'll get his ground at Aintree. They're giving it as good at the moment and I know from my youth that it's a quick-drying track."

Trainer John Queally reports Al Eile to be "on target" ahead of his bid for a fourth win at the Grand National meeting - and a third Aintree Hurdle, following his wins in 2005 and 2007. The eight-year-old runs in the colours of Michael Ryan, who also has a good chance with Finsceal Beo in Saturday's Dubai Duty Free.

Hughie Morrison is considering the John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase for Starzaan, who was pulled up in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase after two impressive earlier wins in novice company.

"I don't think he likes Cheltenham, he's never run well there, and he didn't like the watered ground, which was very dead. He just came back a little bit flat really but we're toying with the idea of going to Liverpool with him at the end of next week. If we miss that, we could end up going to Ayr. Ideally, I think he wants an extended two and a half miles but we might try him over three again at Aintree. He ran his best ever race there in the past," Morrison told PA Sport.

Paul Nicholls is likely to run Master Minded in the Melling Chase over 2m 4f and Kauto Star in the 3m 1f totesport Bowl - see the full story.

Master Minded could again meet Voy Por Ustedes, with Alan King telling the Racing Post: “Voy Por Ustedes is going to step up in tripfor the Melling Chase and we'll probably let D'Argent take his chance in the big one.

“My Way De Solzen will take his chance in the Aintree Hurdle, while Blazing Bailey will go for the three-miler. There's no race for Katchit, though, so he won't be going.”

Tom Taaffe saddled Slim Pickings to finish third in last year's Grand National, but the gelding is set to shoulder 9lb more this year.

The trainer told At The Races: "It's a very different race this year because it's a compressed handicap, the lowest-weighted horse will probably carry 10st 9lb or 10st 10lb I would think. That's never happened in a National before and it'll be a higher-class race this year.

"He's good. He worked this morning and Barry Geraghty sat on him and he worked well, we're very happy with him."

Taafe is also pleased with Tumbling Dice after schooling well over National fences at home: "The reason that we're running him is that he jumps National-type fences at home so well and he's a typical two-and-a-half-mile horse. If he takes to the track and to the whole thing, I think he'll run a really big race."

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Tuesday 25 March 2008

Tom Mullins is hopeful of a big run in the Grand National from Chelsea Harbour, who was fourth over 2m 5f at Leopardstown three weeks ago.

He told At The Races: "The ground changed. It was very quick so our tactics changed and we couldn't do exactly what we wanted, but he came out of that last race in great order.

"He's bouncing and we're just waiting. I wish the Grand National had been the week after that, but it was five so we're hanging on. He's still in great nick and we're hoping for the best.

"There's plenty of positives. He won over three miles five at Punchestown with top weight and I was surprised how fresh he was when he came back in. He came out of it in good form, having jumped very well. Davy (Russell) was right pleased with him and there were no problems on that score. He's going to be a fresh horse going into the National and they have struck up a good partnership.

"The two of them know each other which is important especially for the first few fences in the National. Point Barrow went at the first last year. I'm just biding my time and doing my best to get the horse there in good nick and we'll take the glory after, if we get it."

Kim Bailey's Longshanks, seventh in the Grand National last year, has been allocated a weight of 10st 6lb for this year's renewal, and requires about 20 horses to come out to be sure of a run. "He's still on course for the National but I don't think he'll get in," said Bailey on Tuesday. "He had feet problems which meant he came into training very late but he's creeping along and had a racecourse gallop at Exeter the other day. He's also been entered in the Topham Chase and the Scottish National so I suppose he would run in one or the other, but we're very much in the lap of the Gods as to where he goes."

Charles Egerton's game mare Kruguyrova, who rallied in the closing stages for a gutsy second to Tidal Bay in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, is set to run in the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase, with Egerton saying: "She's fine and will probably go to Liverpool. She's in good form and the plan is to go there."

Tom Hogan's Kalderon got his head in front for the first time in 18 months when he beat Earth Magic, the only other runner, in the €30,000 Betchronicle Private Client Telebet Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Monday, and could now be a runner at Aintree.

Monet's Garden loves Aintree and is a likely runner in the John Smith's Melling Chase, where he could meet Kauto Star, whose trainer Paul Nicholls is reported to favour a drop back to two and a half miles.

Trainer Nicky Richards said: “No doubt Kauto Star will have been trained for Cheltenham. The plan was always to wait with Monet's Garden. The year before, everything went so well for Kauto. He looked absolutely beautiful all year. This year he has looked three different horses, in my opinion.

“I thought I had Monet's Garden very well at Ascot and I thought he ran a very good race. I thought Kauto looked bloody brilliant at Ascot, whereas at Cheltenham he didn't look the same in his coat. I don't know if he would want to have Gold Cup trials against Monet's Garden every year.

“I am going to put Monet's Garden in the three-mile-one, but he is more than likely to go for the two-and-a-half-miler. I am quite sure Paul will want to make sure Kauto Star has suffered no ill-effects from Cheltenham. He will want to look after him for next year.”

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Thursday 20 March 2008

Whiteoak was beaten by Keith Reveley's Tazbar at Doncaster and paid the form a huge compliment when winning the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Tazbar is to be aimed at the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. A good performanc could see him being aimed at the World Hurdle next year.

"He's spot-on at the minute and in good form. Hopefully I can keep him as he is at the moment," said Reveley. "His form all the way through is rock solid and he's probably got improvement to come, he is only young. It's amazing he had the toe to beat Whiteoak over two miles but he is a proper three-miler, he wasn't stopping at Haydock, he's a proper stayer with the pace to travel and jump.

"Aintree should be tailor-made for him because you do need a bit of pace round there and if you had to pick a track to suit him you would probably go for that one. He got beat in the bumper there last year but the race came a bit late, he was trained for Grand National day and the race came three weeks later."

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Monday 17 March 2008

Paul Nicholls is hopeful that Mr Pointment will put his poor effort in the Grimthorpe Chase, on by Cloudy Lane, behind him, telling At The Races: "He's still on target for the National. It was a bit disappointing the way he ran that day but in hindsight I'm convinced he had a little bleed, not outwardly, but I think that is just him anyway.

I'm not convinced he was enjoying the ground anyway. If you watch it again he didn't jump at all and he sometimes can have an off-day. But he has worked hard since and I'm going to put that behind me and just try to get him there in as good a form as I can."

12-year-old Philson Run, fourth in the Grand National last year, is on target for this year's renewal reports trainer Nick Wiliams.

"He's never in great shape because he is such a fragile horse!" said Williams. "He's in one piece though and the National is still the plan with three weeks to go. He'll run whatever the ground is. He's actually a bit better on good ground but when it is soft it just slows the others down a bit more. If it was softer last year he may have been closer still.

Whiteoak ran out an impressive winner of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Donald McCain could run her at Aintree.

McCain said: "She's a real decent mare and she's proved herself one of the best mares in the country. We don't have anything else in mind as yet, there is a two and a half mile novice at Aintree for her and we'll have to have a look at that but Cheltenham was the target so we'll play it by ear.

"There was a doubt about her getting two and a half miles because she is so fast and because of that you just think she is a two-miler. But she gets two and a half and she's quick which is even better."

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Saturday 15 March 2008

Ferdy Murphy, the trainer of Coral Cup winner Naiad De Misselot, reports that his retained jockey Graham Lee is recovering well from his broken jaw, and should be back in action ahead of the Grand National meeting.

Whilst the winner will be put away for the season, the fourth horse Mendo, will be seen at Liverpool. Noel Chance said: “I’m delighted. When the horse (Whispered Promises) fell, the horse next to him was interfered with and there was a bit of a knock-on effect which didn’t help him but it’s great that he managed to get fourth for all the people who’ve backed him.

“A three-miler around Liverpool on softer ground and it will be a different ball game for him.”

Triumph Hurdle winner Celestial Halo isn't done with yet, with owner Andy Stewart keen to take the horse to Liverpool. “Today was only his third race since he was gelded and he is a two and a half miler in the making,” the owner said.

Celestial Halo had shown improved form from his last outing at Doncaster, and trainer Paul Nicholls explained why. “We rode him completely wrong that day,” acknowledged the trainer, “It was a complete balls up last time when we ran him at Doncaster. Ruby wasn’t positive enough and I wasn’t positive enough with Ruby and also, the horse hates good ground. But we learnt a lot about how he should be ridden. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

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Friday 14 March 2008

There had been talk of retiring Inglis Drever if he won a third World Hurdle, but that looks less likely now, with trainer Howard Johnson saying: "If he’s got a chance in the Order of Merit I might go to Aintree if the ground is good to soft, but if not we’ll turn him out and if he’s still loving racing then we’ll keep him going next season. But he wouldn’t have any more than three runs next season - Newbury, the Cleeve and then here.

“He can be tailed off in a gallop at home, then hit the hill and run past horses, and he does the same here. You can always tell when he’s coming with a run because he puts his head on one side and his eyes pop out.

The David Pipe-trained Over The Creek failed by seven lengths to catch Old Benny in the marathon Peter O’Sullevan Chase Challenge Cup and - although cut to 33/1 from 40/1 with William Hill for the John Smith’s Grand National - is not certain to head to Aintree.

“He jumped, he travelled and he ran a great race but maybe was just done for a bit of toe at the finish,” said Pipe. “This race was tailor made for him, he relishes these long distances. He is in the Grand National but I’m not sure where he’ll go - he’ll be entered in all the long-distance races. He jumps and stays well.

The winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, Alberta's Run could head to Liverpool in preference to the Irish National, with trainer Jonjo O'Neill saying: "The horse jumped great and travelled well so it was always looking good. There was plenty in the tank coming down the hill, and when Tony looked between his legs I thought there must be a little bit up his sleeve, so I was happy on that.

“The horse will probably go to Liverpool now - he’s in the Irish National but I don’t think he’ll run there. But he must have good ground. We ran him on heavy and got him beat, so won’t do that again.”

The placed horses in the Champion Chase could meet again at Aintree. Alan King said of Voy Por UStedes: “That was an awesome performance from the winner [Master Minded] and I take my hat off to him. We were beaten fair and square. It was a proper test today and the best horse won. It had been said before that it might not be a vintage renewal, but it doesn’t look that way now does it?”

"I think we might look at stepping him up in trip now. Providing he comes out of today OK, we could look at running him over two and a half miles at Aintree next month.”

Philip Hobbs's Fair along could step up in trip as well, with the trainer saying: "He was just flat out from the word go and then stayed on at the end. He saved himself a bit and then ran on. The obvious race for him now is the two and a half miler at Aintree because there is knowhere else for him to go and the way he stayed on here you''d say he''d have no trouble with that trip."

Schindlers Hunt, who finished fourth, made the running yesterday and his trainer Dessie Hughes added: "It was a great run and it was good to see him come back to himself. We maybe made a bit too much use of him and he could have finished third but the winner was just a machine, he was unbelievable and he''s a beautiful horse to look at as well. We might go to Aintree and we''d definitely think about the Swordlestown at Punchestown."

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Wednesday 12 March 2008

The William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday once again gives useful pointers to the John Smith's Grand National, with L'Ami and Patsy Hall, third and fourth behind An Accordion, both heading for the big race where they both rate as 25-1 chances.

Francois Doumen hopes Aintree’s National fences will act as a wake-up to nine-year-old L'Ami, who finished tenth behind Silver Birch last year.

Doumen said: "He’s getting a little bit lazy and Tony McCoy complained that he was being too cold during the race. He had to ask him to keep up, and I hope he will be keener in the National.

"The pace was a bit too slow today, and that allied to the horse being too lazy was the reason we were beaten - simple. The horse is well and that is the principle, and the whole plan is to get to the National.

"I only wish this horse had won today like his brother, Kelami, did a few years ago."

L’Ami wore cheekpieces today, and when asked if he might put blinkers on the horse at Aintree, Doumen said: "We’ll see. We have plenty of time to think about that."

Ferdy Murphy's New Alco, second in the William Hill trophy, could run at Aintree, said owner Sean Murphy, who added: "That’s three seconds and a third for him at Cheltenham [including non-Festival races] and he was sixth in this race last year. He’s been a bit unlucky today and nearly came to a stop at one fence, but he got back into contention and Davy Russell gave him a great ride.

"Ferdy reckoned we were too close to the pace last year and burnt him out, so we held him back today. He’s only seven, but he comes up that hill and loves it."

The Champion Hurdler Katchit will not head to Aintree, with trainer Alan King saying: "I don't think he'll go to Aintree, that's two and a half miles and he could possibly go to Punchestown but I think that's probably it for the season. I always said we wouldn't over race him this season as a five-year-old."

The other five-year-old in the race, Punjabi could be an Aintree Hurdle runner, with Nicky Henderson saying: "Punjabi went to Cheltenham and Punchestown last season and there's no reason why he can't do the whole thing again, with Aintree the next stop.

"The good thing about Punjabi was the way he stayed on up the hill while Afsoun lost his place before the second-last, at which point I thought he would be tailed off. He ran on again when meeting the rising ground.

"It is interesting the two five-year-old horses have run virtually to their Triumph form, which is great."