Betfred Grand National Trial
 QuinnBet
Grade 3 Handicap Chase 14:40
Haydock Park
£100,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
3m 4f 97y, Class 1   
Saturday 18th February 2023

BetZone

1 Quick Wave 18/1
2 Snow Leopardess 16/1
3 Cloudy Glen 28/1
14 ran NR: The Two Amigos Distances: ¾l, 9½l, 6l
Time: 7m 49.90s (slow by 26.90s)

The Venetia Williams-trained Quick Wave was one of only four runners in the 14-strong field with an entry in the Randox Grand National and her odds for the world’s most famous steeplechase were unsurprisingly slashed following a tenacious display on Merseyside.

Quick Wave lined up with questions to answer after being pulled up when favourite for the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December and was an 18-1 shot in the hands of Harry Bannister.

Her stablemate Cloudy Glen, who also holds an Aintree engagement and was making his first appearance in over a year, raced with zest on the front end for much of the three-and-a-half-mile journey, while Bannister was more patient aboard his mount.

With Cloudy Glen beginning to feel effects of his early exertions, it turned into a straight shootout from halfway up the straight, with popular mare Snow Leopardess and Quick Wave going at it.

There was little to choose between the pair jumping the final fence and both gave it their all, but it was Quick Wave who just found most for pressure to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Trainers Quotes

Bannister, riding his first winner since returning from a serious hip injury, said: “I can’t take too much credit, she’s a lovely mare. Credit to Venetia and the team who had her spot-on today.

“Venetia is an exceptional trainer and it means a lot to get this winner back. It’s been a long road and there’s lots of people to thank.

“I probably ended up a bit closer to the inner than I would have liked, but we saved what we could, she’s jumped really well and travels so strongly and stays well.

“She showed her staying credentials and she appreciated being back on this better ground after the Welsh National.”

Charlie Longsdon was delighted with the performance of runner-up Snow Leopardess, who will not run in this year’s Grand National after pulling up in the race last season, but she is set for an appearance at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

“She’s run an absolute cracker to be honest. It’s great to get her back on the form we want her to be in and there’s no disgrace in finishing second,” he said.

“We’re gutted not to win of course, but that’s neither here nor there and that will hopefully set her up nicely for the cross-country next month.

“She gets her 7lb claim (at Cheltenham) and I’m hopeful we can sneak into the place there. She’s been a superstar mare for us and I can’t ask any more from her.”

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Grand National Trial
£100,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 4f 97y, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Quick Wave 10 11-8 Venetia Williams Harry Bannister 18/1
2 ¾ Snow Leopardess 11 10-11 Charlie Longsdon Gavin Sheehan 16/1
3 9½ Cloudy Glen 10 11-5 Venetia Williams Sean Quinlan 28/1
4 6 First Lord De Cuet 9 10-6 David Pipe David Noonan 11/1
5 11 Fortescue 9 11-3 Henry Daly Hugh Nugent 12/1
6 2¼ Small Present 8 10-2 Sue Smith Ross Chapman 7/1
7 ¼ Notachance 9 10-6 Alan King Tom Cannon 11/1
8 nse Time To Get Up 10 10-7 Jonjo O'Neill Kevin Brogan 20/1
9 12 Saint Xavier 11 10-2 Richard Hobson Charlie Price 28/1
10 1¼ Fontaine Collonges 8 10-11 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7/2F
11 3 Bristol De Mai 12 12-0 Nigel Twiston-Davies Daryl Jacob 12/1
PU Omar Maretti 9 10-10 Alex Hales Sean Bowen 6/1
PU Grumpy Charley 8 11-0 Chris Honour Bryan Carver 12/1
PU Tim Pat 7 10-2 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 7/1
NR 10 The Two Amigos 11 10-6 Nicky Martin David Prichard

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