Wednesday, April 2, 2008

KATARINO BIDS TO MATCH CREDIT CALL'S FOX HUNTERS' RECORD

The 13-year-old gelding won the race in 2005 and 2006, but missed last year’s contest after picking up an injury when winning a point-to-point. Twelve months later he is back bidding to match Credit Call’s achievement of winning the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase three times.

Credit Call first won the race in 1972 under Chris Collins - now chairman of Aintree’s parent company, Jockey Club Racecourses - and in 1975 and 1976 under Joey Newton, a steward at this year’s John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

Robert Waley-Cohen, who owns and trains Katarino at his home in Warwickshire, said: “Running in a point-to-point last year cost us dear, so we decided to head straight to Aintree this time without a prep race, but he’s a real professional and not difficult to get fit. Good to soft ground is perfect for him, but it looks a stronger race than when he won two years ago.”

Waley-Cohen’s son, Sam, who has such a good record over the National fences, rides Katarino again. He won this race on Katarino in both 2005 and 2006, and took the John Smith’s Topham Chase on Liberthine in 2006.

Scots Grey, who won the race for Nicky Henderson’s stable last year, will be partnered by Jamie Snowden. This time last year Snowden was sidelined with a broken ankle, and Richard Burton stepped in for the winning ride - Burton now partners the Ian Emes-trained Alvino, who won a Wincanton hunter chase on his latest start, while rising star Josh Guerriero takes the mount on Christy Beamish for Wolverhampton trainer Paul Jones. Christy Beamish was second to Katarino in 2006.

Yorkshire-based trainer Cherry Coward and rider Oliver Greenall team up hoping to land a unique double. At Cheltenham last month, they won the Christie's Foxhunter Chase with Amicelli and now they are reunited with Sonevafushi.

Several trainers and riders have achieved the double with the same horse - Reg Wilkins and Ron Treloggen were the most recent thanks to Double Silk’s victories at Cheltenham and Aintree in 1993 - but no yard has won both races with different horses.

Sonevafushi, a former handicap hurdler and chaser, has won two open point-to-points this year in the colours of hotelier Tom Bannister and Lord Daresbury, who is Greenall’s father and chairman of Aintree Racecourse. A top-flight amateur jockey who rode as Peter Greenall, Lord Daresbury won the John Smith's Fox Hunters’ Chase in 1982 on Lone Soldier.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls runs two horses in this year’s John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase - Thisthatandtother, the mount of Nick Scholfield, and Whitenzo, who will be ridden by Colman Sweeney - while Irish stables are represented by Arctic Times, Where Now and Younowhat.

Where Now and Arctic Times were third and fourth in last year’s race and the latter has since finished third in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham.

The sport of three-day eventing has a representative in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase - Jane Starkey, who trains Buckby Lane for her mother Ann, has represented Britain in the World and European Championships, and finished third at Badminton. Starkey said: “The horse is in great form, but when it comes to training racehorses I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing.”

That may be true, but Buckby Lane has won two point-to-points this year, so Starkey is doing something right, not least in booking Polly Gundry to take the ride. Gundry, five times Britain's champion woman point-to-point rider, won the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase in 2002 on Torduff Express.

STAR TURNS AT AINTREE ON DAY ONE

Inglis Drever, who won the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a record third time at last month’s Festival and can now claim to be the greatest staying hurdler of all time, is the other. He faces 10 rivals in the opening event, the £100,000 Grade Two John Smith's Great Float Social Club Liverpool Hurdle (2pm).

A scarcely-believable performance from Denman dented Kauto Star's fabulous record when the pair met in last month's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the runner-up will take some beating in tomorrow's £160,000 Grade Two totesport Bowl Chase (2.35pm). As a former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner with two King George VI Chases to his name, the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star remains a great horse, but he will have to be at his best when taking on four rivals at Aintree.

This small, highly-select field promises to produce one of the races of the season, for the line-up includes Monet's Garden, who beat Kauto Star in the bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree in November when Exotic Dancer, another candidate tomorrow, was third.

Monet's Garden has a fine Aintree record, having won last year's John Smith’s Melling Chase, but he now steps up in trip to three miles, one furlong for the first time.

Trainer Nicky Richards has also entered the grey for Friday's John Smith's Melling Chase just in case the ground is too soft to attempt the longer trip the day before.

Our Vic, who won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on his latest start, and Kauto Star's stable companion Gungadu, who carried top-weight to victory in February's Racing Post Chase, complete the quintet of runners in a contest that must not be missed.

Inglis Drever’s challengers include a quartet he saw off at Cheltenham, namely Blazing Bailey (blinkered for the first time), Chief Dan George, Flight Leader and Lough Derg. Other rivals to the Howard Johnson-trained champion include Ballyfitz who won the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, Kicks For Free, who was second in the Festival's Coral Cup, and useful French raider Millenium Royal.

A Cheltenham winner and a horse who had to settle for second at that meeting, head the 10-strong field for the £130,000 Grade 1 John Smith's 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (3.10pm). Celestial Halo bids to follow up his JCB Triumph Hurdle victory, but he is likely to be eyeballed by Binocular, who finished runner-up in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

FRIDAY’S GRADE ONE CHASE

A mere five years old, the Nicholls-trained Master Minded put up a sensational performance when landing the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, but six rivals have been declared to take him on in Aintree's £200,000 Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase (3.10pm) - they include Monet's Garden, who won the race 12 months ago, but may run in the totesport Bowl tomorrow instead.

Other notable candidates are Voy Por Ustedes, Newmill and Tamarinbleu, who were second, fifth and seventh to Master Minded at Cheltenham, plus Mister McGoldrick, who won the Festival's Racing Post Plate for trainers Sue and Harvey Smith. The final runner is the Peter Bowen-trained Yes Sir.

GOING LATEST

Andrew Tulloch, Aintree’s clerk of the course, said at 4pm today: “We have had no rain today and there has been selective watering of the Mildmay and hurdle courses to maintain good going.

“Another dry day is forecast tomorrow and we could have light drizzle on Friday. We will keep assessing the ground and watering can take place if needed.

“I am pleased with the condition of the ground on all three courses and especially on the Grand National track which offers ideal jumping ground.”

BETTING NEWS

The three-day fixture begins with a big jackpot rollover of £137,627 after the bet was not won at Catterick today.

Totesport spokesman Damian Walker said: “We expect well over £1/4million in the jackpot pool for Thursday and there is a possibility of the bet approaching the magic million on Saturday if it rolls over from the first two days.”

John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle
3m 110yds Aintree 2.00pm Live on BBC2
6-5 Inglis Drever, 11-2 Blazing Bailey, 6 Kicks For Free, 10 Millenium Royal, 12 Chief Dan George, Lough Derg, 14 Gaspara, 20 Ballyfitz, 20 Faasel, 28 Flight Leader, 50 Kawagino
Each-way 1/5 1, 2, 3

Totesport Bowl Chase
3m 1f Aintree 2.35pm Live on BBC2
4-6 Kauto Star, 11-2 Exotic Dancer, 7 Monet’s Garden, 15-2 Gungadu, 9 Our Vic
Each-way 1/4 1, 2

John Smith’s 250th Anniversary Hurdle
2m 110yds Aintree 3.10pm Live on BBC2
6-4 Celestial Halo, 7-4 Binocular, 7 Harper Valley, 11 Star Of Angels, 12 First Buddy, 20 Lupanar, Pagan Starprincess, 50 Chord, Make Haste, 66 Quilver Tatou
Each-way 1/5 1, 2, 3

Silver Cross Red Rum Handicap Chase
2m Aintree 4.20pm Live on BBC2
11-2 Lennon, 6 Andreas, 8 Bambi De L’Orme, Leslingtaylor, 9 Wanango, 14 Calatagan, Four Chimneys, Greenhope, 16 Dev, 18 Almaydan, 20 Desert Quest, Ela Re, Lord Henry, Marcel, Saintsaire, 25 Magic Sky, Tramantano, 28 Stan
Each-way 1/4 1, 2, 3, 4

John Smith’s Grand National
4m4f Aintree Saturday April 5th
5 Cloudy Lane, 9 Slim Pickings, 10 (from 11) Comply Or Die, 12 Simon, 14 Bewleys Berry, Butler’s Cabin, 14 Chelsea Harbour, 16 Kings John Castle, 18 McKelvey, Mr Pointment, 20 Hedgehunter, Point Barrow, Snowy Morning, 25 D’Argent, L’Ami, Mon Mome, Philson Run, 28 Dun Doire, Turko, 33 Joes Edge, Kelami, Vodka Bleu, 40 Idle Talk, Knowhere, Newbay Prop, Ossmoses, 50 Backbeat, Baily Breeze, Black Apalachi, Fundamentalist, Irish Raptor, Joacci, Longshanks, Madison Du Berlais, Naunton Brook, Noir Et Vert, Opera Mundi, You’re Special, 66 BAR
Each-way 1/4 1, 2, 3, 4
Non runner no bet

Irish-trained Grand National
10-3 Slim Pickings, 5 Chelsea Harbour, 11-2 Hedgehunter, 6 Snowy Morning, 13-2 King John’s Castle, 7 Point Barrow, 8 Dun Doire, 12 Baily Breeze, 14 Black Apalachi, 16 Newbay Prop, 25 Hi Cloy, No Full, Tumbling Dice, 28 Livingstone Bramble, 33 Merderka, Native Jack, 40 Beantown, Wonderkid, In The High Grass, 66 Glennfinn Captain, 100 Secretof Shambhala
Each-way 1/4 1, 2, 3 (unless 16 or more run)

Winning Weight
5-6 11st and above
5-6 Under 11st
Win Only

Number of Finishers
10-1 8 or less
3-1 9-12 (inc)
11-4 13-16 (inc)
11-4 17-20 (inc)
9-2 21-25 (inc)
10-1 26-30 (inc)
33 31 or more
Win Only

Winning Distance
11-4 (from 5-2) 0-1.5 lengths (inc)
11-4 (from 5-2) Over 1.5 to 3 lengths (inc)
9-4 (from 5-2) Over 3 lengths to 10 lengths
3 (from 7-2) Over 10 lengths
Win Only

9-4 Irish-trained winner

EMPOWERED HOPES TO FOLLOW HALF-BROTHER AUTHORIZED

The York race is the richest Derby trial with £150,000 in prize money and easily the most important because three of the last four winners have gone on to Classic glory at Epsom Downs - Motivator (2005) and North Light (2004) as well as Authorized in 2007.

Declared to make his debut at Leicester tomorrow in a near 10-furlong maiden, the three-year-old son of Fasliyev is held in obviously high regard by connections.

“We’ve entered Empowered in the totesport.com Dante Stakes but we won’t know how good he is until he runs tomorrow.” explained Richardson.

“Obviously, being related to Authorized, Peter (Chapple-Hyam) has a soft spot for him but I think the proof will be in the running. Once he’s had an outing, we’ll know what ground and trip he likes but we do hope he will be good enough to run in the totesport.com Dante Stakes.

“He’s one of those horses who grew a lot as a two-year-old and was quite backward. Also, I think Peter had a few horses who were coughing towards the end of the season and he was one of them.

“We just a took a view that we’d let Empowered get over that and hopefully he’ll be a stronger and fitter horse for it.”

Aidan O’Brien, successful in the totesport.com Dante Stakes with both Saratoga Springs in 1998 and Septimus in 2006, has made a huge entry of 23 including Curragh maiden fourth Washington Irving, who is a Montjeu half-brother to Epsom and Darley Yorkshire Oaks heroine Alexandrova.

O’Brien is also represented in the entries by Listed Eyrefield Stakes winner Alessandro Volta and Achill Island, runner-up to the Brian Meehan-trained City Leader in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot in September.

Other well related three-year-olds from his yard include King Of Westphalia, out of a Group One winner and full-sister of Irish 1,000 Guineas scorer Yesterday, Tale Of Two Cities, a full-brother to six-time Group One winner High Chaparral, and Hawk Wing’s Fusaichi Pegasus half-brother Zulu Chief.

Sir Michael Stoute’s totesport.com Dante Stakes quintet is headed by Confront, while the nine Godolphin entries trained by Saeed bin Suroor include Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rio De La Plata, Group One Racing Post Trophy victor Ibn Khaldun and McCartney who is being aimed at the race after winning three times last year including the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Four from Henry Cecil’s Newmarket base include the unbeaten Twice Over, who was a comfortable maiden winner at headquarters over a mile before stepping up to 10 furlongs at the same course for a conditions stakes, which the son of Observatory won in good style. His other entries are dual winners Jack Dawkins and Kandahar Run, along with debut runner-up Timetable, who is an Observatory half-brother to last season’s Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes heroine Passage Of Time.

IRISH RAID LIKELY FOR YORK SPRINT

County Kildare-based handler Kevin Prendergast is considering running the four-year-old Haatef, who proved himself to be a top-class sprinter in the making with a swooping victory on his latest start in the Group Two Diadem Stakes at Ascot on September 30.

Prendergast revealed today: “Haatef has been entered in the Duke Of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes at York and he could go there. He’s also entered in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in the middle of April, but it depends on the ground where he runs. He’s doing well and I am happy with him.

“He’s won on good ground, but he wouldn’t want it too fast. In last year’s 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket the ground was too fast for him, but it was a bit better when he won at Ascot and I’m pleased with the way he’s wintered.

“I think that six furlongs would be his ideal trip now. I was lucky enough to train several members of his family and his full sisters Ulfah and Walayef both won nice races over the trip and we’ll be aiming him at some of the top sprints this season.”

Other notable entries in the Duke Of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes include last year’s Darley July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret and the Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes victor Soldier’s Tale.

Poule d’Essai des Poulains scorer Astronomer Royal and US Ranger are among the five Aidan O’Brien-trained entries, while Rising Shadow, Assertive and Al Qasi, who all chased home Amadeus Wolf in this race last year, are also engaged.

ROYAL AND REGAL PLUS SERGEANT CECIL AIMING AT EMIRATES AIRLINE YORKSHIRE CUP

The Newmarket-based trainer today reported the four-year-old to be acclimatising well to his new surrounds and is in good form ahead of the Group Two event. He also outlined plans to run Peter Savill's colt in a Group Three as a prep to York's valuable mile and three quarter race.

"The Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup is certainly one of Royal And Regal’s targets. He came from France to me during the winter and he's settled into things well and is coming along nicely.

"He’s obviously a nice horse and is in good form at home. He may have a prep run in the John Porter Stakes over a mile and a half prior to the Yorkshire Cup but we'll just have to see if he's ready enough for that Newbury race."

Rod Millman is hoping that Sergeant Cecil will return to his best in the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup, a race which the nine-year-old took in brave fashion from fellow entry Geordieland last year.

Millman commented: “The plan is to run Sergeant Cecil in the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup. He’s had a nice long holiday and I’m very pleased with him.”

Sergeant Cecil has won four of his six starts at York, including the totesport Ebor handicap in August, 2005, as well as Group Two victories in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at the same meeting a year later and the re-routed GNER Doncaster Cup the following month.

Millman continued: “He always seems to run well at York. He put in a career best performance in last year’s race, which was great considering he had to carry a penalty. He was suffering from a lung infection towards the end of last season, when he ran badly in the Lonsdale Cup at York, so we decided to put him away for the year.

“He won’t have to carry a penalty in this year’s race. It’s obviously great to win a Group One and on the day you think it’s fantastic, but when you have to keep conceding weight to all of the other horses, it makes life a bit tough. There were also some really good stayers coming through, but our boy still won £95,000 and four years ago we wouldn’t have believed he would come so far.

“He’ll probably have his first race in the John Porter at Newbury before going on to York, just like he did last year. He’s been on the go a long time, but if anyone can still do it as a nine-year-old, Sergeant Cecil can. Look at Persian Punch, he was still winning races at ten!”

The 39 horses entered for the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup are headed by dual Ascot Gold Cup scorer Yeats. His trainer Aidan O’Brien has five horses engaged, including last year’s St Leger runner-up and Melbourne Cup third Mahler and the talented Septimus, winner of the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York and the Doncaster Cup in 2007.

Sixties Icon, who won the 2006 Ladbrokes St Leger run at York, has also been entered along with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Prix-Royal Oak and Goodwood Cup heroine Allegretto, the 2007 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Youmzain and the 2006 Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup winner Percussionist.

The first day of York’s May Festival on May 14 is the start of 15 days of quality racing on the Knavesmire, offering record prize money of more than £4.6 million and climaxing with the four-day Ebor Festival, on August 19-22, boasting the Group One Juddmonte International, Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks and the Coolmore Nunthorpe, as well as the totesport Ebor, Europe’s richest Flat handicap.

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