EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase
Grade 1, Aintree 13:45
£120,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
2m 3f 200y, Class 1   
Thursday 3rd April 2025

BetGoodwin

1 Impaire Et Passe 9/4
2 Gidleigh Park 7/1
3 Jango Baie 6/4F
9 ran Distances: 1¼l, shd, 2¼l
Time: 4m 58.58s (slow by 6.58s)

Willie Mullins kicked off the Grand National meeting at Aintree in style with a polished performance from Impaire Et Passe.

The seven-year-old, ridden by Paul Townend, was sent off a 9-4 chance and came into the race fresh, having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival. A winner of last year’s Aintree Hurdle at this meeting, Impaire Et Passe travelled comfortably throughout, and after Harry Fry’s Gidleigh Park made a bold mistake at the second-last, the Mullins charge moved into the lead earlier than perhaps anticipated. However, with plenty in hand, he extended his advantage to a length-and-a-quarter, despite the valiant Gidleigh Park sticking to his task well. Nicky Henderson’s Arkle winner Jango Baie, sent off the 6-4 favourite, always seemed to be chasing the leaders and despite a determined effort, had to settle for third, beaten by a short head.

Mullins was pleased with his charge’s effort, commenting: “It was very good. The extra half-mile and the cheekpieces seemed to suit him, and I think the fast pace really worked in his favour, so everything went according to plan. It was a trouble-free round, and from my point in the stands, I didn’t see any mistakes. He did it well.”

The trainer also reflected on the connections’ decision to bring the horse to Aintree rather than Cheltenham. “Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the owners, were very keen to have a team here at Aintree rather than Cheltenham, and that suited me fine,” he added.

Henderson, meanwhile, praised the effort of his Arkle winner Jango Baie. “The other two hadn’t gone to Cheltenham, so he’s done very well to come here and do that,” he said. “He came home strongly, like he did at Cheltenham. I think we’ll nearly be starting next year over three miles with him.”

Henderson explained the decision to run Jango Baie in the Manifesto rather than the longer distance. “We had him in the three-miler, and it was a toss-up between the two races. It was as close as tossing a coin to decide which one to run in,” he admitted. “He’s an exciting horse – we’ve all seen it. He finishes well every time, he really comes home strong. He does hit a little flat spot, which leaves him with some ground to make up, but while at Cheltenham he was flat out the whole way, at least today he travelled well."

Despite the defeat, Henderson was not overly concerned, adding: “I think he’s done really well as Cheltenham was a hard race. We’ll see how the others go as the week progresses, they’ve all been here and run well. I’m not panicking – yet! He might well be a King George horse next year.”

Boylesports

Manifesto Novices' Chase
£120,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 3f 200y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Impaire Et Passe 7 11-7 W P Mullins Paul Townend 9/4
2 1¼ Gidleigh Park 7 11-7 Harry Fry Bryan Carver 7/1
3 shd Jango Baie 6 11-7 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 6/4F
4 2¼ Boombawn 8 11-7 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 22/1
5 12 Rubaud 7 11-7 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 16/1
6 10 Mark Of Gold 8 11-7 Gary & Josh Moore Caoilin Quinn 33/1
7 4¼ Croke Park 7 11-7 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 7/1
8 1¾ The Kalooki Kid 7 11-7 Nicky Richards Danny McMenamin 28/1
9 38 Fascile Mode 7 11-7 Thomas Mullins Danny Mullins 150/1

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