John Smith's Melling Chase Preview

Finian's Rainbow steps up to two and a half miles for the first time over fences on Friday as he bids to follow up his famous Cheltenham Festival success in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree.

The nine-year-old won over that trip in his novice hurdle days back in 2010 but has been kept at around two miles since graduating to the bigger obstacles and landed the Queen Mother Champion Chase in dramatic fashion last month, beating Sizing Europe in a thrilling finish.


His rider Barry Geraghty told At The Races: "He's come to himself since the Victor Chandler. We were a bit disappointed on the day, he travelled brilliantly and looked the winner but on the day he wasn't just seeing out the race the way he should."

He added: "At Cheltenham he travelled brilliantly and came up the hill well. There was a lot of talk about the last fence being in or out, but if you ask me if there were two more fences to be jumped it would have been the same result. He was full of running and finishing his race well.

"Two-four should suit him and he really seems to have come to himself. He was keen last year as a novice and didn't give himself a chance to get home. He did too much in the Arkle, I felt he'd have won that if he'd settled better.

"He's settling better and should be seeing out his races - he did at Cheltenham but he didn't for whatever reason at Ascot (in January). I'm looking forward to the ride."


Albertas Run took this race two years ago and was second behind Master Minded 12 months ago.

Jonjo O'Neill's 11-year-old usually comes good at this time of year and was runner-up in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

"He's in good nick but I hope we don't get too much rain," said owner Trevor Hemmings' racing manager Michael Meagher.

40 Go To Post In National

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Synchronised heads a maximum field of 40 for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Tony McCoy's mount, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, will bid to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season.

All the other leading fancies are in the final line-up, including last year's winner Ballabriggs, trained by Donald McCain.

He will attempt to be the first since Red Rum, trained by McCain's father Ginger, to land back-to-back victories in the world's greatest steeplechase some 36 years ago.

On His Own, the mount of Ruby Walsh, heads Willie Mullins' team while the Irish jockey's sister Katie will be aboard Seabass for their father, Ted Walsh.

Nina Carberry, who is also bidding to become the first female rider to win the race, will be aboard Organisedconfusion for her uncle, Arthur Moore.

Among the other major contenders are Giles Cross, West End Rocker, Junior, Cappa Bleu, Chicago Grey and Killyglen.


Le Beau Bai has been withdrawn, and connections had warned earlier in the week the ground may not be soft enough for the Welsh National winner, who was a top-priced 40-1. Always Waining, who runs in Friday's Topham Chase instead, was the only other defector from the 47 qualified five-day entries.

That means Hello Bud and Neptune Equester can now take their chance.

Four reserves were declared - the first reserve being Any Currency followed by Our Island, Abbeybraney and Smoking Aces. They have until 9am on Friday morning to get a run.

Jefferson Follows Up In Style

Malcolm Jefferson's Cape Tribulation followed up his Cheltenham victory off top-weight in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at Aintree.

Winner of the Pertemps Final last month, the eight-year-old did not travel as well this time off an 8lb higher mark, but Denis O'Regan nursed him into contention and moved up alongside the bottom weight American Spin, who was up making the running with Buena Vista throughout.

Cape Tribulation (14-1) had to work much harder than at Cheltenham but prevailed by three-quarters of a length with six lengths back to Trustan Times and Ringaroses, placed in the race for the third year in a row.

Jefferson said: "Denis said he was never going, they went some gallop but he stays well. It's some performance, he's a good horse. He came into the race in some fettle, the lad who rides him at home said he felt better than Cheltenham.

"You begin to wonder if he's gone because he's normally so lazy at home and he'd been flying up the gallops.


"Denis gave him some ride today, I didn't bring my binoculars but I could just keep seeing him and I knew where he was at.

"He made up his ground in a nice way and once he gets there he is tough. I hope it's a good omen for Saturday (when he runs According To Pete in the Grand National)."

17 And Counting!

Big Buck's created history in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree by winning his 17th successive race, breaking the modern-day jumps total of Sir Ken.

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles in England, winning this Grade One event for the fourth time, and having also won the last four renewals of the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Andy Stewart-owned gelding rewarded punters who took the 2-9 on offer about the favourite.

Ruby Walsh settled the superstar in third position and he travelled well through the early stages. Crack Away Jack travelled well to challenge but failed like so many before him and eventually trailed in well beaten in second.

Nicholls said: "It was straightforward today. He jumped and travelled and did everything right. We're happy with him. Now he's got older it pays to give him a race between the Long Walk and Cheltenham, so the Cleeve is ideal. We'll follow the same route."

Walsh added: "The easy part is riding him. He's an incredible horse. He's skated in today. It wasn't as competitive a race as Cheltenham. He's bolted in and the last couple of years he's been better here than at Cheltenham.

"We're lucky we've never got to the bottom of him. He's never been extended over hurdles. I would say there's more there."

Stewart said: "He seemed to be idling a little in front. Alan King's horse (Smad Place) was right behind us until unfortunately he came to grief. I was glad to see them all get up.

"We take every race as it comes and we are totally flattered by the reception he has been given by everyone here. He hasn't had an off-day since unseating in the Hennessy a few years ago.

"Undoubtedly (this win means the most), this is absolutely marvellous."

Kirsty`s Back...Soon

Kirsty Milczarek is set to return to action next week after winning her appeal against a two-year ban for passing information for reward and for committing a corrupt or fraudulent practice.

She has already taken steps to regain her licence and will resume work-riding at the weekend.

"I've spoken to my solicitor and he's going to fast track it once it's been re-applied for, I won't be back riding this week purely because I won't be ready physically," Milczarek told At the Races.

"What everybody has got to remember, and a lot of people didn't realise, was that I wasn't actually allowed into a racing yard, so I haven't sat on a racehorse for a good four months.

"I'll be back riding work on Saturday morning. I've kept very fit and I started eventing. I hunted all winter and I've thrown everything into my horses at home and I've been schooling.

"The heaviest I got was 8st 8lb and I was 8st 4lb the last time I rode. I'm back down to eight three and a half which is brilliant."

Milczarek is looking forward to getting back in the groove.

"I've spoken to the boss (Luca Cumani) and he wants me back as soon as possible, but I've been working as a 'nag and nanny' back home in Essex looking after horses and children and I don't want to let the family I've been employed by down," she told the Daily Telegraph.

"I'll need to ride a good few bits of work before I'm ready to race-ride. It certainly won't be this week, but it won't be long."

Aintree's Betfred Bowl Looks Good For Theatre

Ryanair Chase victor Riverside Theatre heads a three-strong team from the Nicky Henderson stable in Aintree's Betfred Bowl.

The eight-year-old got up in the dying strides at Cheltenham and his jockey Barry Geraghty is confident he will be even better over this longer distance.

"I'd be more than happy over three miles, he looked like a stayer at Cheltenham, maybe he even wanted further. He didn't jump the first two well, he jumped OK during the race but never really travelled and he found everything hard work for a horse that's won the Ascot Chase twice," said the Irish rider.


"Whether he slightly had an off-day, maybe that was it. He was a different horse to what we saw at Ascot but I wouldn't blame the track. Maybe he was just a bit flat having his second run back (after a long absence). His best runs might be right-handed but that's just where he's been, he's won at Newbury so I wouldn't read much into that."

17 In A Row?

Owner Andy Stewart believes Big Buck's is as enthusiastic as ever as he goes for an amazing 17th win on the spin in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old has won the extended three-mile event, which opens the three-day John Smith's Grand National meeting, for the last three years and made Cheltenham history when lifting the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fourth time last month.

"Obviously he is feeling it because he is nine years of age, so youth is just on his side, but it's not quite the same as when he was seven. One day he will turn around and say I don't want to do this any more but I think we are miles away from that at the moment," said Stewart.

"After this year's World Hurdle you wouldn't have known he had a race - he could have gone round again.

"I wouldn't say he is better at Aintree as the fields he's been facing there haven't been as strong as at Cheltenham. Saying that, last year he beat Grands Crus one and three quarter lengths in the World Hurdle and then five lengths on the bridle in the Liverpool Hurdle.

"I think Grands Crus just had a very hard race at Cheltenham, and, albeit we had a race, Big Buck's just seems to recover so quickly."

National News

Synchronised will complete his John Smith's Grand National preparations with a pipeopener on Thursday ahead of the Aintree spectacular on Saturday.

Providing he comes through the exercise at Jonjo O'Neill's stables with no hiccups, the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will head a team of at least four for owner JP McManus.

"He'll do his final bit of work in the morning and we'll see how he is, but it's so far so good," said his racing manager Frank Berry.

"He's not doing a lot in the morning, just a little, and if all is well he will go there.

"Sunnyhillboy is well. He came out of Cheltenham fine and is in good form. With a bit of luck he should go well round there as long as he takes to the place.

"We should have four runners (Quiscover Fontaine and Arbor Supreme are the others) and we have one (Smoking Aces) waiting to get in."


McManus, O'Neill and jockey Tony McCoy tasted National glory with Don't Push It two years ago and he was third to Ballabriggs 12 months ago. But no Gold Cup winner has gone to triumph at Aintree the same year since the mighty Golden Miller in 1934.

Ballabriggs will attempt back-to-back victories in the world's greatest steeplechase, a feat last achieved by his trainer Donald McCain's father Ginger in 1974 through the legendary Red Rum.

"Everything's fine with him and Donald's happy with him," said owner Trevor Hemmings' racing manager Michael Meagher.

"It would be amazing if he could do it again. It's a big ask, but he has got a chance."

Sedgefield Review

With the Grand National itself now less than a fortnight away, Donald McCain and Jason Maguire warmed up for the world's most famous steeplechase as Chamirey landed the Sean Magee's Full Set Durham National at Sedgefield.

The pair can look forward to Ballabriggs defending his title at Aintree on Saturday week and they combined to take a far less prestigious, but just as attritional National in atrocious conditions.

The ground was officially described as good at the start of the day but a couple of hours later, the course had been lashed by rain, wind, hail and snow, leaving just six runners to go to post in the feature event.


Maguire sensibly set a sedate pace before moving things up a gear heading down the back straight for the final time, and the 13-2 chance soon had his opponents toiling in the mud before safely negotiating the final couple of obstacles to secure an 18-length verdict over Bellflower Boy.

McCain said: "He went to Enda Bolger for a go at cross-country racing for a while but it wasn't really his thing, so I bought him back. The ground has come right for him as while he handles decent ground all right, he loves it when it's really testing and he's obviously enjoyed himself today. It's nice to see him win again."

Success in the feature event was the second leg of a double for McCain and Maguire after Saga De Tercey toughed it out to complete a hat-trick of victories in the SAFC Foundation Novices' Hurdle. The 8-11 favourite made all the running and held off the challenge of Walser by a neck.

The brace takes Maguire's seasonal tally to 138, leaving him four winners behind Richard Johnson in the race to finish second to Tony McCoy in the jockeys' standings, and he said: "It's nice to have another winner and I'll just keep my head down and keep working and see where we end up."

Positive tactics also paid dividends on Kealigolane as he justified 7-2 favouritism in the John Wade Waste Recycling Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final. Barry Murtagh's recent Haydock winner made every post a winning one in the hands of Lucy Alexander, making light of the testing ground to score by 14 lengths.

Alexander said: "With the wind and rain it's pretty tough conditions out there, but it's nice to have a winner and this is a nice prize." She then completed a double, guiding Ann Hamilton's late arrival Fred Bojangals (8-1) to success in the digibet.com Handicap Chase.

Hamilton said: "We had blizzards up in Newcastle and I didn't think we were going to get here, it was touch and go. It was worth it in the end, I just hope we can get home now!"

News On The National

Gordon Elliott believes the early stages of the John Smith`s Grand National will be crucial for Chicago Grey.

Well backed for the Aintree spectacular in recent days, the 2011 Cheltenham Festival winner has been prepared with one race in mind all season. But the nine-year-old has got detached before early on in his races, and Elliott is worried that he could get too far behind too early.

"He schooled last week, schooled very well and stays well, he won the four-miler at Cheltenham last year," said Elliott.

"He`s done everything we`ve wanted him to do this year, Paul Carberry is going to ride him.

"If he can get into a nice rhythm in the first half of the race I think he`ll run a massive race. The first four or five fences are going to be very important, if he can get into a rhythm and get jumping.

"He`s probably not the best jumper in the world, he`s adequate, he has his own technique. It`s hard to know what horse is going to take to it.

"He`s been round a lot of the park courses, I think he`ll be OK as he`s got a good man on his back. I just hope he doesn`t get detached early," he told At The Races.

Paul Nicholls is down to just one representative after the retirement of Niche Market due to injury, and expects Neptune Collonges to take his place. The striking grey, who has won three Irish Grade Ones and been placed in a Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been back to staying handicap chases this term and most recently finished second in the Haydock Grand National trial.

"He has been a wonderful horse and I'm almost certain he'll run," said Nicholls.

"It was a shame about poor old Niche Market. This horse has a touch of class and could run a solid race. I suppose he could have done with 10lb less on his back. He's got 11st 5lb, I'm sure he'll cope with that, but I haven't got a strong opinion on it."

Here Come The Girls!

Hayley Turner is to join North American stars Chantal Sutherland and Emma-Jayne Wilson to form the first ever female team at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot on August 11.

Turner, who has taken part annually since 2006, is Britain's most accomplished lady rider in history, winning two Group Ones last season as well as becoming the first of her sex to ride 100 winners in a calendar year.

She has plenty of assistance through Wilson, who has ridden in the Shergar Cup once before and is one of the top jockeys in Canada, while the glamorous Sutherland, who is also Canadian, rode a Grade One winner in the USA last year and also competed in last week's Dubai World Cup.

They will be against three male teams, representing Great Britain & Ireland, Europe and the Rest of the World.

"The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has regularly reinvented itself and we thought that the time was right to break new ground by seeing how three of the most successful female riders of all time can fare against three teams made up of some of world's top male jockeys," said Ascot spokesman, Nick Smith.

Turner added: "The three of us rode against each other in the Pimlico Female Jockey Challenge in the USA last year and I told Ascot straight afterwards that if there was ever an all girls team at the Shergar Cup, we'd definitely be keen to take part.

"I'm thrilled that it's going ahead and having been with Chantal in Dubai last week, I can tell you that we're both really up for putting one over on the boys on August 11 and I know Emma-Jayne will be too!"

James Doyle gets an automatic invitation as a result of winning the Dubai Duty Free and will make his Shergar Cup debut for the Great Britain & Ireland team. The remaining riders will be announced in due course.

50/1 Opener!

Punters will be hoping the 50-1 victory of Norse Blues in the William Hill Spring Mile at Doncaster is not a sign of things to come for the rest of the Flat season.

The traditional turf season curtain-raiser looked competitive on paper, but the massive Tote return of £106 on the winner told the story of just how difficult he was to find.

Sylvester Kirk's four-year-old was never far away from a strong gallop and when former champion apprentice Lee Newman made a bold move two furlongs out, he could not be caught. Kyllachy Star made late ground for second, a length and three-quarters away.

Lincoln Review

Richard Fahey achieved a long-held ambition when finally landing the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster with Brae Hill.

The Malton handler has had numerous horses placed in recent years, including Brae Hill 12 months ago, when he beat all bar Sweet Lightning.

Back to exactly the same handicap mark, despite subsequently winning the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, Brae Hill was providing Tony Hamilton with the biggest victory of his career.

Prominent throughout, Brae Hill (25-1) got a break on the field with over a furlong to run but Mull Of Killough, in rear early, flew home and closed to within a short head. Fury was third, with Edinburgh Knight (my selection at 22/1>11/1) fourth.

With Paul Hanagan now riding for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Hamilton may find himself in the spotlight more often this season - a situation Fahey is totally at ease with.

The trainer said: "I've wanted to win this race, but felt I was destined to never do it. I think I have had three seconds and plenty of others placed. He's very hairy and hasn't come in his coat, so when you hear trainers talking about that it just shows it's a load of rubbish.

"It's great for Tony, and I am lucky that I have got some very good jockeys. Tony will never let me down. Brae Hill is owned by (Dr) Marwan (Koukash), so all roads will lead to Chester."

Hamilton added: "He stuck his head down and galloped to the line. I did think I had won. It's the biggest race I've ever won. Marwan was keen on me to make it and there wasn't much pace early. It could not have worked out any better.

"I've been with Richard about 10 years, we've always got on, and with Paul getting the big job he's got I might get a few more opportunities, we'll have to see."