As we roll into Aintree and the only race now known in the calendar as the ‘Foxhunters’, we thought that with this seasonal highlight taking the majority of the pointing press’ attention, it would be a good opportunity to focus on some of the other highlights scheduled to take place in the next couple of days.
One of the highlights on Day 1 of the meeting is the Betfred Bowl Chase, and the British point brigade is represented by the brilliant yet infuriating AHOY SENOR, a 50k purchase from the GoffsUK Yorton Sale in November 2020. Unseating on debut at Didmarton in March 2020 before success the following autumn at Kimble for Mel Rowley and Alex Edwards we should’ve known that he would take us on a rollercoaster of a ride that has summitted the heights of Grade 1 victory over both fences and hurdles but been plagued by mistakes on the biggest stages. A faller once again in the Gold Cup, when racing with some of the verve that has seemingly been missing this season, he looks to bounce back at his beloved Aintree, a place where his two previous successes at the highest level have come. And whilst it looks a strong race of its nature, a replica of his previous two seconds to Shishkin and Gerri Colombe respectively, and a clear round of jumping could see him bounce back to the winners' enclosure to claim a first success in open Grade 1 company.
With Tom Lacey’s impressive weekend winner IN A SONNET being the sole British representative in the Goffs select point-to-point sale on Thursday evening, it is prudent to hone in on this taking debut performance from the youngster. Despite being raw early he made most to run out a ready winner of the GoffsUK 4&5yo Maiden at Maisemore Park under Sean O’Connor, looking value for significantly more than the winning two and a half-length margin. From the powerful Lacey yard, he is the third spring 4yo to score this season – the second from the Lacey yard – and was a welcome first winner back for Sean on return from a nasty broken pelvis earlier in the year. A 40k purchase from the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in June of last year, he is out of the Grade 3- placed and Listed winner Aimigayle, a half-sister herself to Listed winner Emmaslegend. Part of the second crop of foals from Boardsmill Stud’s up-and-coming stallion Poet’s Word, and with the yards previous winners of the maiden including the ill-fated Grade 2 winner Blackbow, he looks a fascinating prospect for the future from a deep-looking maiden.
The highlight of the entire week and for many the entire year, is the Grand National. The most watched global racing event in the world, it will play host to at least one ex-British point-to-pointer in the Ben Pauling-trained, Beau Mogan-ridden, TWIG. A winner of five of his eight starts between the flags for Matt Hampton in the covid era, he provided jockey Beau Morgan with his first winner and has gone on to become one of the leading lights of the British pointing field on the staying handicap chase scene. With just short of 150k in prize money accumulated from a total of seven rules victories including Summer Cup victory at Market Rasen alongside multiple Graded placings, he looks totake the biggest one of them all this coming Saturday. Sneaking in at the bottom of the weights, he will appreciate the better ground, and there will most definitely be worse each-way options should you pull his name out of the hat in the sweepstake at the weekend.
Other mentions must be made to the other Grade 1 representatives on Saturday, and whilst declarations are not yet known, if turning up, all would be of major interest. Former Dale Peters’ inmate MIAMI MAGIC and Station Yard Racing’s ROYAL INFANTRY , a 60k purchase at Tattersalls Cheltenham’s April Sale 2023, both hold entries in the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. Both will be trying the two-and-a-half-mile trip for the first time under rules, and with both being distance winners in their points at Charm Park and Edgcote respectively, should improve for the step up in trip and must be given excellent each-way chances. TOUCH ME NOT is the final horse in focus for our preview of Aintree, formerly of the Tom Ellis yard, now residing across the water at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House. He has been a flagbearer for British pointing on both sides of the Irish Sea this season, with two Grade 1 placings alongside Grade 2 success this season, he has certainly made amends for his final fence fall at Charm Park back in March 2023. Subsequently sold at Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale for 150k, here's hoping he can put a disappointing run at Cheltenham behind him back on a flatter track to resume his consistent showings once again in the concluding Grade 1 Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase.