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Monet’s Garden Seeks a Second intercasino.co.uk Old Roan Chase at Aintree 21/10/08

Monet’s Garden bids for back-to-back victories in the £70,000 Grade Two intercasino.co.uk Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday, October 26. The two and a half-mile contest is the first race in the 2008/2009 Order of Merit.

Nicky Richards & Monet's Garden

The popular Nicky Richards-trained grey saw off the mighty Kauto Star to land the spoils 12 months ago, having won the Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase over the course and distance the previous April.

Monet’s Garden failed to fire in his last two starts in the spring but the David Yates-owned 10-year-old looked back to his old self in an exercise spin over hurdles after racing at Perth in September.

Richards revealed today: “Monet’s Garden is fine after his outing, the old lad’s in good nick and we’re looking forward to getting him back on the track at Aintree - he’s in good form with himself. It’ll be a very interesting race again and we’re looking forward to it.

“He summered well. I think a lot of my horses weren’t quite right in the spring and he was probably one of them, but hopefully it’ll be all guns blazing again on Sunday with him.

“The one thing about him is he’s got a great owner and we’ll run him when he’s ready to run. Hopefully, we’ll have a lot of fun again this winter with him.”

This year’s renewal of the prestigious contest has attracted a fantastic 22-strong entry, headed by last season’s Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase victor Voy Por Ustedes. Exotic Dancer, third in the race last year, won in Grade Two company over three miles and a furlong at the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National Meeting.

The Howard Johnson-trained Tidal Bay triumphed in the Grade One Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March and followed up with a resounding victory in the Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April.

The all-conquering Paul Nicholls could saddle Nozic and Galway Plate winner Oslot, while Donald McCain has engaged Regal Heights and 2008 John Smith’s Grand National sixth Cloudy Lane.

Snoopy Loopy has been in fine form this summer for trainer Peter Bowen, while other entries include Grade Two winner Knowhere, Ungaro, Moon Over Miami and Ashley Brook.

Since its inaugural running in 2005, the intercasino.co.uk Old Roan Chase has rapidly developed into a high-class event. The Henrietta Knight-trained Impek prevailed in 2005, while Kauto Star, trained by Paul Nicholls, won the prestigious limited handicap in 2006 en route to victories in the Betfair Chase, Tingle Creek Chase, King George VI Chase and Gold Cup at Cheltenham, as well as landing the Order of Merit.

Aintree’s first meeting since June is a two-day affair, with high-class jump racing taking place on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26.

The tremendous seven-race card at Aintree on Sunday also features the £50,000 intercasino.co.uk Four-Year-Old Hurdle (2.40pm). The extended two-mile contest has attracted seven entries, headed by the Nicholls-trained Pierrot Lunaire, winner of the Grade Two Littlewoods Direct Appeal Top Novices’ Hurdle over the course and distance in April.

Subsequent Champion Hurdle winner Katchit captured the prize last term for trainer Alan King and the Barbury Castle handler could be represented by Squadron.

The afternoon kicks off at 1pm with the £10,000 EBF Lexus Liverpool National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles and is followed by the £10,000 Liverpool Echo Handicap Hurdle (1.35pm) over an extended three miles.

Also on the card are the £15,000 intercasino.co.uk Novices’ Chase (2.10pm), the £14,000 Silver Cross Handicap Chase (3.50pm)and the concluding £6,000 Enter 2009 John Smith’s People’s Race Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (4.25pm).

Saturday boasts a competitive seven-race fixture, featuring the £30,000 intercasino.co.uk Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2.05pm). The extended three-mile contest, for horses aged 10 years and older, has attracted 15 entries, including Fundamentalist, Rambling Minster, D’Argent and Naunton Brook.

Leslingtaylor won the Listed £22,000 intercasino.co.uk Molyneux Novices’ Chase (1.35pm) in 2007 and this year’s renewal of the two-mile race has 12 entries, including the smart Irish raider Dreamy Gent, trained Jessica Harrington.

The powerful Nicholls stable could saddle recent Cheltenham winner Poquelin and Tatenen, while Cool Operator and Striking Article could line up for trainer Howard Johnson.

Both days promise excellent racing, while Sunday has the added attraction of being Aintree’s annual family fun day with lots of entertainment on offer for all members of the family.

Admission prices are £19 for adults while accompanied children under 16 are admitted free.

Tickets can either be purchased on the gate, by calling 0844 5793001 or online at www.aintree.co.uk.