Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase |
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| Grade 1, Aintree £110,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1 |
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| Saturday 5th April 2014 | |
1 Balder Succes 7/2
2 Simply Ned 12/1
3 Trifolium
11/4F
7 ran Distances: 4l, ½l, 10l
TIME 3m 48.40s (fast by 0.60s)
Trainer Alan King was over the moon with the performance of Balder Succes after the 7/2 shot produced a fine round of jumping to win the Grade One Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree this afternoon.
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The six-year-old had seen off the challenge of 11/4 favourite Trifolium as they approached the final fence but still had to fend off runner-up Simply Ned on the run-in and battled on well to record a four length victory.
"His lad was so nervous and didn't sleep too well last night but I did and almost couldn't get up this morning!" said King.
"It was a great performance though and he's jumped really well.
"He needed a good jump at the last and got one. His jumping was great all the way round and I think it has paid not going to Cheltenham. He's fresh and well and I am thrilled for him.
"He could go to Punchestown. He gets two and a half miles but I think that he is probably at his best over two.
"We don't have to be aggressive now - earlier in the season we always felt that he had to make the running but there was so much pace on today that we didn't want to do that.
"Fences have made a man of him and that's what we hoped for. He was a bit soft over hurdles and he didn't really like some of the big fields he ran in. He's grown in confidence this season though. We'll take it as it comes before looking at what he runs in next season."
Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
£110,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good
| Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Distance |
|
| 1 |
Balder Succes A King |
W Hutchinson 11st 4lbs |
7 - 2 Winner |
| 2 |
Simply Ned N G Richards |
Brian Harding 11st 4lbs |
12 - 1 4 lengths |
| 3 |
Trifolium C Byrnes |
A P McCoy 11st 4lbs |
11 - 4 1/2 length |
| 4 |
Moscow Mannon H de Bromhead |
D N Russell 11st 4lbs |
9 - 2 10 lengths |
| 5 |
Next Sensation M Scudamore |
T Scudamore 11st 4lbs |
6 - 1 Head |
| 6 |
Ted Veale A J Martin |
B J Geraghty 11st 4lbs |
12 - 1 6 lengths |
| 7 |
Hinterland P F Nicholls |
N Fehily 11st 4lbs |
11 - 2 63 lengths |
WAYNE'S ON TOP OF THE WORLD AFTER SECOND SUCCESS
Wayne Hutchinson partnered Clondaw Kaempfer to victory yesterday at Aintree for Donald McCain and followed up by notching a Grade One triumph for his boss Alan King aboard the six-year-old Balder Success.
"He's just an absolute pleasure to ride," said Hutchinson. "He's grown up into a man this year. He was very babyish before but he's a different horse now.
"He took an awfully long stride at the last but I could still feel someone breathing down my neck. You don't win races just by popping the last here, it was there to be had and fortunately I had the horse there underneath me to do it.
"I have gone in tight at the last and he was very good - I set sail and could feel something there. It was do or die but he is very brave - he is scopey - and he is very honest. He has come for me, galloped all the way to the line and I am delighted with him.
"Because we went a good solid gallop today - it might have been as quick as he has gone - it just took me three fences to hit my rhythm. Once we have steadied up slightly going to the back, his jumping has got me going again."
Hutchinson added: "It's been an unbelievable week. I'm very happy and I'm just looking forward to the rest of the day now.
"I'd like to say a big thank you to the owners and to Alan [King]. We were confident that he was more than capable of winning a Grade One and we decided to come straight here this year instead of going to Cheltenham."
RICHARDS SIMPLY DELIGHTED
Nicky Richards was left thrilled with the performance of Simply Ned after the consistent seven-year-old finished a four-length second to Balder Succes.
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The Penrith trainer said of the 12/1 chance: "I am very pleased and he has run a lovely race.
"He has progressed all season and has been very consistent all year, whereas he was hard to catch right last year. He is obviously growing up.
"There is not a lot left for him this year so that will be it and we will end on a good note.
"He jumps so well and he might just improve again next year.
"There are some nice races for him at Ascot and Sandown so we might just try him right-handed at some stage."
TRIFOLIUM MAINTAINS PLACE APPEAL
Trainer Charles Byrnes conceded Trifolium was not at his fencing best today, but he praised his horse for another fine effort when finishing third.
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Beaten four lengths and half a length by winner Balder Succes and runner-up Simply Ned, Trifolium repeated the placing he achieved when third in the Cheltenham Festival's Racing Post Arkle Chase.
Byrnes said: "I was very happy with the run, but he didn't jump as well as he can.
"I believe today's effort was every bit as good as that at Cheltenham, so I'm not saying that race left a mark. On soft ground he is likely to stay at this trip [two miles] next season, and he will certainly be aimed at Punchestown later this month."
