 |
 |
|
|
|
Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase 2012 |
Albertas Run to Return to Old Roan Chase
05/10/12
The £65,000 Grade Two Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase is the highlight on an exciting seven-race card at Aintree on Betfred Old Roan Chase Day, Saturday, October 27, 2012.
 |
Betfred Old Roan Chase Day starts the new season of thrilling racing at Aintree and is the first of three autumn racedays at the famous racecourse. Aintree also races the next day, Sunday, October 28, 2012, which is Matalan Family Fun Day, while Betfred Becher Chase Day on Saturday, December 8 features two races over the Grand National fences.
Multiple Grade One-winning chaser Albertas Run made a successful reappearance last season in the Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase with a gutsy front-running effort under regular partner, the 16-time champion jump jockey A P McCoy, to score by a length from outsider Pure Faith with dual Champion Chase hero Master Minded back in third.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained 11-year-old was subsequently a brave half-length second in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival before returning to Aintree to finish third in the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase in April behind Finian’s Rainbow.
Mick Meagher, racing manager to Albertas Run’s owner Trevor Hemmings, said: “Albertas Run is fine. We haven’t made any definite plans with him but he has started in the Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase the past two years so it’s a possibility for him.
“We will play it by ear with him in regards to his plans for the rest of the season. He seems well and he has followed almost the same route for the last three seasons so I don’t think it will change very much this time around.”
The Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase, over two and a half miles of the Mildmay Course, was first run at Aintree in 2004 and has been won by some jumping icons including 16-time Grade One winner Kauto Star in 2006.
The race is run in honour of three-time winner and Aintree specialist Monet’s Garden for the second year.
One of the most popular chasers of recent times, Monet’s Garden etched his name into Aintree folklore with three sensational victories in the Grade Two limited handicap chase in 2007 (beating Kauto Star), 2009 and 2010 and also triumphed in the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase and the Liverpool Hurdle at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.
The gallant grey, who won 17 of his 32 races for trainer Nicky Richards and owner David Wesley Yates, retired from racing in January, 2011 and battled bravely against a life-threatening hoof infection which he is fully recovered from.
The 14-year-old, now looked after by Richards’ daughter Joey, paraded at Aintree before the running of the Betfred Old Roan Chase last year and has already been to Aintree this year, having attended as a show horse in July when he finished sixth in the retrained racehorse class.
Betfred Old Roan Chase Day, with the first race at 1.50pm, also features the £20,000 Betfred Mobile Sports Veterans’ Handicap Chase, which is for horses aged 10 and above.
Matalan Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 28 is geared towards the younger generation with a number of exciting activities off the track including the chance to meet Peppa Pig, a medal craft workshop, pony riding and grooming, face painters, ride like a jockey and dance classes with MDI.
The day has a fancy dress competition with both children and adults encouraged to dress up as their favourite sporting personalities of 2012.
Aintree will also host its first edition of the M-Factor which invites the younger generation to show off their talents and skills in front of a panel of judges for a chance of winning a £2,000 prize, made up of £1,000 cash and £1,000 worth of Matalan vouchers.
The racing highlights are the £20,000 Weatherbys Hamilton Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Chase and the £16,000 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, with the first of seven races due off at 1.10pm.
