Monday, November 19, 2007

SONNYANJOE PRIMED FOR ANOTHER LUCRATIVE RAID, SWAN OUTLINES BETFAIR CHASE PLANS, BUCKLER & McCAIN TALK ABOUT totesport.com BECHER CHASE HOPEFULS - ALL THE NEWS AHEAD OF THE 2007 NORTHWEST RACING MASTERS

Sonnyanjoe’s trainer Tom Hogan revealed today: “It is a strong possibility that he will run, as he is very well after his run at Cheltenham on Saturday. That is three races he has won in England now, so it would be lovely if he could make it four.”

The Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle, run for the first time this year over fixed brush hurdles, is one of the highlights on day one of the fantastic two-day Northwest Racing Masters, which continues at Aintree on Sunday, November 25, with a thrilling six-race card that includes the £70,000 totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (1.40pm) and the £100,000 Listed totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm), both contested over the world famous Grand National course.

Sonnyanjoe scored decisively by three and a half lengths under Paddy Brennan in the extended three miles and a furlong Listed Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, November 17, adding to successes in valuable prizes at Chepstow in October and Newton Abbot in September.

County Tipperary-based Hogan is keen to strike again with his game nine-year-old while the iron is still hot, so long as conditions are favourable.

The Irish handler continued: “It depends on what the ground is like and what is above him in the handicap, but if it is good to soft as predicted at Haydock, then we could live with that.

“We will just see what is likely to run before making a decision and I would not be running him with a high weight.

“He started off this year off 108 in Ireland and he has won five races since March. He won off 137 at Cheltenham, so as a nine-year-old I think it is unlikely that he would improve much more. We have to be realistic, but there might be one more nice prize in him.

“He would not be able to carry 11st 7lb in conditions hurdles - or 11st 10lb as it would be in Ireland. He is a small horse, scarcely 15.3hh, and you need more than heart to carry weight. He has all the heart but he just needs a bit more than that - he is not able to carry big weights and he is too small to jump a fence, so things get quite limited from here on in.

“I think Paddy (Brennan) is very fond of him so I’m sure he would want to ride him again. He is a genuine horse but Paddy has definitely got the key to him.”

Other entries in the Betfair Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle include last season’s winner Halcon Genelardais who subsequently won the Coral Welsh National for trainer Alan King, Grade Two Spa Novices’ Hurdle winner Wichita Lineman, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, and fellow Cheltenham Festival hero Oscar Park, who took the Coral Cup for trainer David Arbuthnot.

The Francois Doumen-trained course and distance winner Millenium Royal could mount a strong French challenge, while Paul Nicholls has entered Betfair Chase possible Taranis, winner of the Grade One James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 3.

Saturday’s exciting six-race card at Haydock Park also features an exciting renewal of the £200,000 Grade One Betfair Chase (2.05pm) over three miles, which is race 11 in the Order Of Merit.

Former Irish champion jockey turned trainer, Charlie Swan, is eyeing the valuable prize with last season’s high-class novice Offshore Account, who capped a four-race winning streak with victory in the Grade One Ellier Developments Hanover Quay Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown in April.

Swan revealed today: “Offshore Account is entered in the Betfair Chase and the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, so we will have a look at both races and he could go to Haydock. He is probably better in at the Hennessy but he has not had a run this season so we are just looking forward to getting a run into him before the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

“I was very happy with his progress last season. He improved after every chase and his jumping is his forte. He is a half-brother to The Listener and Fork Lightning so it is a good jumping pedigree. He is in great form, I just hope that I have him fit enough to do himself justice.

“Offshore Account has won on bottomless ground and good to firm. I would not want it too quick but I doubt that will be an issue with the rain we have just had.”




Swan could also run the lightly-raced 10-year-old Mister Month in the £50,000 Betting As It Should Be Handicap Chase (2.35pm) over three miles, while Boulavogue and Valain are engaged in the £40,000 Reg Griffin 50 Years At Timeform Handicap Hurdle (1.05pm) over two miles for four-year-olds.

The County Tipperary trainer continued: “Mister Month is in the Betting As It Should Be Handicap Chase and Valain and Boulavogue are in the Reg Griffin 50 Years At Timeform Handicap Hurdle.

“I will probably run one in the handicap hurdle depending on the weights. Boulavogue is possibly the one at this stage but we will see.

“Mister Month won his maiden hurdle this season and followed up with his first chase win in a handicap the time after. He has been injured and was out for a couple of years but is in good order now.

“He has won on heavy and wouldn’t mind if it came up soft, but I would prefer if it was not too heavy and good to soft would be fine.”

Offshore Account is likely to meet Kauto Star, the reigning champion steeplechaser and last season’s Betfair Chase hero, who is set to lock horns with his old rival Exotic Dancer and the Alan King-trained Grade One Arkle Chase victor My Way De Solzen in what promises to be a real clash of the titans.

Other entries for the prestigious contest include Irish raider Beef Or Salmon, second in the Betfair Chase in both 2005 and 2006, the Ferdy Murphy-trained Aces Four, Ollie Magern who bounced back to form with victory in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on November 3, last season’s star three-mile novice chaser Denman and his Nicholls-trained stablemate Taranis.

The Betfair Chase is the first leg of the Betfair Million, which is generously awarded by Betfair to the connections of any horse who wins the Betfair Chase and adds either the King George VI Chase at Kempton or the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, as well as the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.

Kauto Star rewarded owner Clive Smith and trainer Paul Nicholls, along with the handler’s team at Ditcheat, when he became the first Betfair Million winner thanks to his brilliant triumphs in the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase and totesport Gold Cup.

The inaugural running of the early season highlight in 2005 went to the Robert Alner-trained Kingscliff, who denied Beef Or Salmon, with that year’s totesport Gold Cup hero Kicking King in third.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: "The 14 entries for the Betfair Chase include the first four home from last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and six of the first seven in our betting for the 2008 renewal, which underlines just how quickly the race has become the early season focal point for the top stayers.

"So, clearly, Kauto Star has a tough task if he going to land the first leg of the Betfair Million bonus he won for connections last season. But we saw just how talented a horse he is in the last campaign, and nothing is beyond him, so little wonder that the Betfair layers aren’t prepared to offer more than 5-4 about him winning on Saturday."

To win the Betfair Chase - Betfair bet: 5-4 Kauto Star, 3-1 My Way De Solzen, 9-1 Exotic Dancer, Aces Four, 20-1 Denman, Turpin Green, 39-1 Beef Or Salmon, 41- Ollie Magern, Monkerhostin, 49-1 Taranis. 64-1 Madison Du Berlais, 69-1 Offshore Account, 99-1 Yes Sir, Too Forward

HAYDOCK GOING

The going at Haydock Park is currently:

GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES

Kirkland Tellwright, Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park, said today: “The ground is just about perfect and is currently good to soft, good in places.

“We are forecast showers every day this week and at this stage I would say that good to soft ground is likely for Saturday’s card.”

BUCKLER & McCAIN OUTLINE AINTREE PLANS

The highlight at Aintree on Sunday, November 25, is the £100,000 totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm) over the Grand National course.

The three and a quarter mile handicap is a key trial for the John Smith’s Grand National and Silver Birch followed up success in the 2004 totesport.com Becher Chase with victory in the world’s greatest chase last season.

Amberleigh House gave trainer Ginger McCain a fourth victory in the Grand National in 2004, having triumphed in the totesport.com Becher Chase three years earlier.

Seven horses returned to Aintree in April, 2007, following a run earlier during the season in the totesport.com Becher Chase, with McKelvey finishing sixth in the totepsort.com Becher Chase and a close second behind Silver Birch in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Bob Buckler won the totepool Grand Sefton Chase at this meeting last year with I Hear Thunder, and the trainer is looking forward to another big run from his classy nine-year-old in the totesport.com Becher Chase on Sunday.

Buckler said: “The plan is to run I Hear Thunder in the totesport.com Becher Chase on Sunday. He had some heat in one of his legs after winning the totepool Grand Sefton Chase last year, and we gave him some time off afterwards.

“He had a quiet little run around Aintree in a novice handicap hurdle in October, because he’s on a far lower hurdles mark than over fences, and he seems to have come out of it fine.

“He would have got into the John Smith’s Grand National last year on his rating, and the plan is to go for the race again this year. He’ll have a quiet campaign after the totesport.com Becher Chase because I’m quite keen to nurture his chase handicap mark this year.

“He’s a lovely big type of a horse, and everything has gone all right so far, and I hope he’ll put in a good performance on Sunday.”

The totesport.com Becher Chase has attracted 28 entries at the six-day stage, including last year’s second Bewleys Berry and third Dunbrody Millar, who returned to Aintree in April, winning the John Smith’s Topham Chase.

Garvivonnian was successful in this race in 2005, while Royal Auclair, who could represent last year’s winning trainer Paul Nicholls, finished second behind Hedgehunter in the 2005 John Smith’s Grand National.

Pak Jack finished second over the National fences in the John Smith’s Foxhunters’ Chase in April, while Kandjar d’Allier, The Outlier, Ballycassidy and Le Duc all return to Aintree having contested last season’s John Smith’s Grand National.

The £70,000 totepool Grand Sefton Chase (1.40pm) will also be run over the Grand National Course on Sunday, and the two mile, five and a half furlong contest has attracted 33 entries at the six-day stage.

Donald McCain could be represented by progressive seven-year-old Bannister Lane, who has never fallen in 20 starts.

McCain said: “Bannister Lane is also entered in the totesport.com Becher Chase, but I would prefer to run him in the totepool Grand Sefton Chase if the ground is soft enough. He didn’t like the fast ground or going right handed at Ascot on his latest start.

“He’s a bit of a character and he has his own way of doing things, but he’s a sound jumper and a good galloping horse, and if he takes to Aintree, he could run really well.”

McCain could also run Maurice in the totepool Grand Sefton Chase, although his participation could depend on owner Trevor Hemmings’ other possible starters at the Northwest Racing Masters.

McCain explained: “Maurice is also entered at Haydock on Saturday (Betfair Casino Zero Lounge Handicap Chase at 3.10pm), and Mr Hemmings has several possibilities in the totepool Grand Sefton, so I’ve got to speak to his racing manager to see where he’s going.

“He won some chases over the big fences at Auteuil for his previous connections, so I hope he would enjoy the Grand National course. I was pleased with his run around Aintree in April, and he had a wind operation over the summer, so I was a bit disappointed with his seasonal return at Cheltenham.

“If he progresses from his run at Aintree, then I think we’ve got a very decent horse, but it just hasn’t happened so far this season.”

Among the entries for the totepool Grand Sefton Chase are last year’s second Shannon’s Pride, third Theatre Knight, and fourth Cassia Heights.

LATEST totesport ODDS FOR THE totesport.com BECHER CHASE
8 BEWLEYS BERRY
10 DUNBRODY MILLAR
10 MR POINTMENT
12 KANDJAR D'ALLIER
14 A NEW STORY
14 AKA JAKE
14 ALRIGHT NOW M'LAD
14 I HEAR THUNDER
14 IRISH RAPTOR
14 KING KILLONE
14 LE DUC
14 LEADING MAN
16 BRIERY FOX
16 GARVIVONNIAN
16 PAK JACK
16 PARKINSON
16 ROYAL AUCLAIR
20 BANNISTER LANE
20 IRON MAN
20 SILVER JACK
20 THE OUTLIER
25 FINZI
25 LANKAWI
33 BALLYCASSIDY
33 TOMMY SPAR
50 HIGH COTTON
50 SYBELLIUS D'ARTAIX
100 BLACK SMOKE

EACH WAY 1/4 THE ODDS A PLACE 1-2-3-4. ALL QUOTED. ANTEPOST RULES APPLY.

SPECIAL BET: 20/1 any horse to win the totesport.com Becher Chase and go on to win the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National.

AINTREE GOING

The going as at Aintree is currently:

GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES - Grand National Course

GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES - Mildmay Course

The forecast is for generally unsettled conditions this week, although the amount of rain forecast is not expected to significantly alter the ground.

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL PRIZE MONEY CONTINUES TO GROW

Following a tour of his yard, Elliott spoke of his disappointment that Silver Birch would be unable to compete in the 2008 renewal owing to injury - the first occasion a Grand National victor has been unable to defend his crown since Red Marauder’s victory in 2001 - but confirmed that the 2009 National was firmly on Silver Birch’s return schedule.

Born on March 2, 1978, in Summerhill, Co Meath, Gordon Elliott was not from a racing family and became interested in the sport as a schoolboy. He first worked for Tony Martin at the trainer’s County Meath stable while still at school and quickly established himself as a highly-proficient point-to-point rider, partnering around 200 winners between the flags as well as over 50 winners under Rules in Ireland.

After also working for trainer Michael Cunningham, Elliott made the move to Britain in 2002 when he joined champion trainer Martin Pipe. He continued to ride as an amateur and narrowly missed out on obtaining a mount in the John Smith’s Grand National.

A return to Tony Martin preceded Elliott taking out a licence to train himself in February, 2006, at Capranny Stables, Trim, County Meath. The stables are owned by Barry Callaghan, the head of the Dun Doire syndicate, who had the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire run in the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National.

One of Elliott’s owners is Brian Walsh from County Kildare. Walsh has spent the past three years establishing a high-quality band of almost 20 broodmares at Rheindross Stud in Kilcock, and made a big splash in the sales ring in April, 2006, when paying £220,000 for Racophorus, a record for a jump mare in training.
A former winner of the totesport.com Becher Chase and the Welsh National when trained by Paul Nicholls, Silver Birch was purchased for just 20,000 guineas on behalf of Walsh by agent Michael Donohoe at Doncaster in May, 2006. Silver Birch failed to win in his first four outings for his new connections, although he put up a decent performance to finish second to Heads Onthe Ground in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He was then sent to Aintree for the John Smith’s Grand National, where he was rated a 33/1 chance. Prominent from towards the end of the first circuit, Silver Birch led approaching the final furlong and stayed on resolutely to deny the fast-finishing McKelvey by three-quarters of a length.

Reflecting on his John Smith’s Grand National success with Silver Birch, Elliott said: "To be honest, we fancied him at Cheltenham, when he was second (in the Cross Country Chase at The Festival in March). Perhaps he had too tough a task giving 12lb to a useful opponent. But to think that I was going to win the Grand National - that would have been a bit cocky!
"We thought that with a bit of luck, we had a big chance of finishing in the first five. Jason Maguire, who is a good friend of mine, walked the course with me on the morning of the race and he said he couldn’t see Silver Birch being out of the first four. Everyone said he was a mudlark, but Jason called it right.

"Looking back, it was just an amazing day. It’s a race you’ve always watched since you can remember. To win the Grand National in my first proper season training is a dream come true. How could it be anything else?
"The atmosphere at Aintree was electric. There were a lot of other Irish owners there including the owners of Dun Doire - and they celebrated afterwards almost as much as if their horse had won! The reception we received when we got back to Ireland was brilliant. It was just unbelievable.

"The story with the horse makes it even mores special. He was written off and almost like a has-been.
"Winning the Grand National is great in a million different ways. We have attracted new owners to the yard and hopefully they will bring in the better horses. Hopefully, we can keep on improving and winning more races.

"Silver Birch jumped and travelled great the whole way - he never put a foot wrong. He actually idled out in front but it worked out great. McKelvey was coming so quick you couldn’t think too much. Robbie [Power] was brilliant. No jockey could have done a better job on the day.

"Our only concern before the race was whether he could lie up on the good ground. But he had his ears pricked early on and started jumping from fence to fence, so I knew he was going to be fine.

"We had a great reception when we got home. David Pipe and Ashley Farrant came over and it was great."
Unfortunately, Silver Birch will not be able to defend his crown at Aintree in April due to an injury to his near-fore, although Elliott is optimistic about the future.

He continued: "Silver Birch is fine, but he’s on the easy list.
"We could have had him back by January, but it would have been a rush to get him ready for Aintree, so we decided to pull the plug for the season.
"He’ll be back next season, and will be aimed at the John Smith’s Grand National in 2009.

"We have a horse, Newton Bridge, who was our first winner at Cheltenham on Friday, and he could be a possibility for a race such as the John Smith’s Topham Chase at Aintree in April.
"He’s won a couple of times over fences, and he could be the type of horse to go to Aintree."
The trainer has increased his number of horses to 40 following the John Smith’s Grand National success in April.

Elliott remarked: "They are nice young horses. Things are going well for us."
Silver Birch, who will be 12 when he is able to return to the John Smith’s Grand National in 2009, is the first winner of the great race not to defend his crown since the 2001 victor, Red Marauder, who also missed the chance of a repeat victory because of injury. The last 12-year-old to win the John Smith’s Grand National was Amberleigh House in 2004.

MEETING PRIZE MONEY UP BY £240,000 (€343,200)

Once again, the total prize money for the John Smith's Grand National meeting has risen, this year by a staggering £240,000 with £2,285,000 (€3,575,000 (Euros)) to be won over the three-day meeting (April 3 – April 5, 2008).

The most significant increases have occurred on the opening day of the meeting, with an increase of £30,000 (€42,900 Euros) in the opening race of the meeting, the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle and an added £10,000 (€14,300 Euros) in the 2.35pm John Smith’s Bowl Steeple Chase (formerly the Betfair Bowl), the 4.20pm John Smith’s Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase and the final race on the card, the 5.30pm John Smith’s No Nonsense Handicap Hurdle.

Prize money on the second day of the meeting sees a £35,000 boost with the John Smith’s Topham Steeple Chase seeing a £10,000 (€14,300 Euros) boost in prize money.

Prize money on John Smith's Grand National day rises to £1,285,000 (€1,837,550 (Euros)) with the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap hurdle increasing by £10,000 to £60,000 (€85,800 Euros) and the John Smith’s Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle up £10,000 to £60,000 (€85,000 Euros) in 2008.

Commenting on the significant prize money increases in 2008, Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse said: “We are delighted to be able to announce a considerable increase in prize money for the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in 2008.

“We are blessed with an incredibly supportive partner in John Smith’s who share our commitment to continually improve the quality of the race meeting and we firmly believe we’ve made a step forward with this increase.”

SALES ON TARGET FOR 2008 SHOWCASE EVENT

Aintree Racecourse today announced that ticket and corporate hospitality sales for the three day 2008 John Smith’s Grand National meeting have been exceptionally strong, with some packages selling out within a week of going on sale in August this year.

Once again, the racecourse is predicting bumper crowds following the successful 2007 meeting when Aintree finished all development works and opened its new Grandstands, the Earl of Derby and Lord Sefton stands.

Commenting on his first National in command at the famous Liverpool course, Managing Director, Julian Thick, said: “It has been a real eye opener coming back to the region and realising the passion for the three day event. The demand when we went on sale was unbelievable and indication that the significant investment in facilities over the last three years has been well received.

“Our customers like to buy early and plan for the event some seven months in advance.

“We have made some small changes to the packages on offer in 2008 and have now introduced a new facility in the County Stand called the Platinum County Lounge, offering VIP benefits to a standard enclosure with private seating. This is one of the areas that has been in huge demand and has sold out on all three days of the meeting.”

Tickets and hospitality packages are still available for all three days of the meeting, including limited seat badges. Racegoers are advised to purchase their preferred badge before Christmas to avoid disappointment.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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