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2015 Topham Chase

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  • 2015 Topham Chase

    One for your note books

    Given that Bennys Mist has appeared at the last four Aintree meetings to feature races over the National course, you can be fairly confident of him turning up in the Topham come April. With that in mind, the ride he received in the race won by Le Reve on Saturday can perhaps be taken as a statement of intent rather than a kamikaze effort.

    It so often pays to race handily over the National fences and Aidan Coleman tested the theory to destruction on Saturday, over-doing the forcing tactics on soft ground but shaping very well in lasting in the lead as long as he did. Bennys Mist is clearly still in top form and is currently rated just 1 lb higher than when he was a staying-on second in last year’s Topham. More assertive tactics, a slightly less aggressive approach than on Saturday, could see him do even better this time.

  • #2
    Rajdhani Express is a prime candidate for this. Woukdnt rule out a big run in the Ryanair first.

    Comment


    • #3
      Bryan Cooper believes Rathlin is an ideal type for the Crabbie's Topham Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting.

      The jockey felt the Mouse Morris-trained 10-year-old showed distinct signs of a revival when finishing second to Mallowney in the Grade Two Paddy Power Your Local Betting Shop Chase at Naas on Sunday.

      "I was pleased with Rathlin behind Mallowney at Naas. The winner is a much improved horse this season and it was no disgrace finishing second to him. He quickened away really impressively after the last," Cooper told his blog on www.racingfx.co.uk.

      "Rathlin hadn't been in the best of form, but he ran a cracker and seems to be coming back to himself.

      "There might be a good pot in him this season and something like the Topham could be interesting."

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Lester View Post
        Rajdhani Express is a prime candidate for this. Woukdnt rule out a big run in the Ryanair first.
        Raj is going for the Plate rather than Ryanair.

        Comment


        • #5
          Donn

          Rajdhani Express

          Rajdhani Express ran a nice race in the two-mile-five-furlong handicap chase at Cheltenham on Thursday. Settled nicely in mid-division by Sam Waley-Cohen, he just appeared to get a little outpaced among traffic as they quickened towards the end of the back straight, and he lost a couple of places. Still travelling well at the top of the hill, however, he still had a wall of horses in front of him as they started down the hill. He was well back in the field when they jumped the third last fence, but he still seemed to be travelling well. He just never seemed to have enough racing room to allow him get out and after the leaders. Switched to the far side in the home straight, he did stay on, but his rider was not overly hard on him once his winning chance had gone, and he ultimately finished eighth, but just over seven lengths behind the winner Darna.

          The Waley-Cohens’ horse is looking like a potentially well-handicapped horse again now. Third behind Dynaste and Hidden Cyclone in the 2014 Ryanair Chase, he was rated 158 at his peak, but he has now dropped down to a mark of 152. Of course, there are reasons for that, he put in a couple of lack-lustre performances in the early part of this season. However, on his penultimate run, he travelled as well as the winner Rocky Creek into the home straight in the BetBright Chase at Kempton before his stamina gave way in that three-mile contest. Thursday’s run was his second encouraging run in a row, and that could set him up nicely for the Topham Chase at Aintree.

          The Waley-Cohens obviously love Aintree. Indeed, the primary objective of his run in the BetBright Chase was to get Rajdhani Express into the first four so that he would qualify for the Grand National. It is probably a good thing that he didn’t achieve that goal, because he does not stay three miles. An extended two and a half miles is probably ideal.

          He is a good jumper, he is the type of horse who should take to Aintree’s unique fences and, should he take his chance in the Topham, he will be partnered by Sam Waley-Cohen, who is dynamite over the big fences. At his best in the spring, Aintree has probably been on the Presenting gelding’s radar since the start of the season.

          12th March 2015

          Comment


          • #6
            Hunt ball I'd being aimed at this too. Geraghty picked him out as one that he will miss at Aintree along with Ma Filleule and Days of heaven.

            Comment


            • #7
              Entries unveiled for Crabbie's Topham Chase and Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase



              Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - Entries are revealed today for the races over the Grand National fences on the first two days of the Crabbie's Grand National Festival - the £40,000 Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase (4.05pm, Grand Opening Day, Thursday, April 9) and the £120,000 Grade Three Crabbie's Topham Chase (4.05pm, Ladies Day, Friday April 10). Both contests take place over an extended two miles and five furlongs.


              There are 67 entries for the Crabbie's Topham Chase with last year's winning trainer Nicky Henderson responsible for three horses including the high-class Rajdhani Express (16/1 with Betfred, official betting partner of the Crabbie's Grand National Festival), who was third in the 2014 Grade One Ryanair Chase, plus Hunt Ball (20/1), who ran well for a long way in last year's Crabbie'sGrand National and Golden Hoof (25/1), who was successful in a novices' chase at Aintree in October. Henderson boasts a formidable Crabbie's Topham Chase record, having landed the prize four times with Wont Be Gone Long (1990), Liberthine (2006), Triolo D'Alene (2013) and Ma Filleule (2014).

              Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is well represented with a quartet of entries including dual Grade Two scorer Wonderful Charm (20/1), Rebel Rebellion (14/1), successful in handicap chases at Ascot and Newbury this season, Grade Three Greatwood Gold Cup scorer Sound Investment (12/1 co-favouirite) and Ruben Cotter (14/1), who scooped a valuable handicap chase at Kempton Park on March 14. Nicholls landed the Topham Chase in 2008 with Gwanako.

              The other 12/1 co-favourites with Betfred are Eastlake (Jonjo O'Neill), third last season behind Ma Filleule and runner-up in the AP McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time out plus Monetaire (David Pipe), who has shaped well on his three starts in Britain including when second in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Festival Plate last time out at Cheltenham.

              The last Irish-trained winner of Crabbie's Topham Chase was Cregg House in 2005 and there are 17 entries from across the Irish Sea this time around. Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins, successful in 2002 with Its Time For a Win, has two entries with Turban (33/1) and Ballycasey (20/1), a Grade One victor last season and Crabbie's Grand National entry. Tony Martin has entered Savello (14/1), a good sixth in the Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 11.

              Maggio (33/1), trained in County Dublin by Patrick Griffin, holds entries in both the Crabbie's Topham Chase and the Crabbie's Grand National. The 10-year-old was recently purchased by Douglas Pryde and Jim Beaumont, owners of 2013 Grand National hero Auroras Encore and big supporters of the Crabbie's Grand National Festival, and a trip to Aintree in April is now very much on the agenda.
              Last season he was the impressive winner of a Listed chase over just short of three miles at Kelso and has run well without winning during the current campaign, most recently staying on well under a big weight to finish third in an extended three-mile handicap chase at Carlisle on February 16.

              Griffin said: "We are focusing on Aintree with Maggio. If he gets in, he would go for the National but if doesn't he would go for the Topham instead.

              "We just have to take it as it comes as to which race he can go for, but Aintree is the plan with him.

              "He will love the kind of ground that Aintree will provide. As regards the fences, the hustle and bustle is an unknown quantity. I feel that the horse would jump round and am optimistic that whatever race he gets in, he will deliver.

              "The run at Carlisle last time was his first beyond three miles and he really proved that he could stay. Then again, if he gets in the National, it would be going up again in trip and it is anybody's guess if he will stay four and a half miles.

              "He is quite a pacey horse and it wouldn't worry me if he had to drop down in trip again for the Topham Chase. It could be up his street."

              Other contenders include Darna (Kim Bailey, 14/1), successful in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Cheltenham Festival and The Package (David Pipe, 14/1), successful at the same meeting in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase and also entered in the Crabbie's Grand National.

              Splash Of Ginge (Nigel Twiston-Davies, 14/1) was second in Grade One company over hurdles at the 2014 Crabbie's Grand National Festival and is a Grade Three winner over fences at Cheltenham this season, while Peter Bowen, who saddled the only three-time winner of the race in Always Waining (successful in 20110, 2011 and 2012) has two entries including the progressive Letbeso (33/1).

              Weights for the Crabbie's Topham Chase will be revealed on Wednesday, April 1.


              Crabbie's Topham Steeple Chase - Betfred bet:

              12/1 Eastlake, Monetaire, Sound Investment

              14/1 Darna, Rebel Rebellion, Ruben Cotter, Savello, Splash Of Ginge, The Package

              16/1 Ballynagour, Bennys Mist, Bright New Dawn, Rajdhani Express, Rubi Light, You Must Know Me

              20/1 Art Of Logistics, Ballycasey, Bless The Wings, Hunt Ball, Poole Master, Some Tikket, Third Intention, Wonderful Charm

              25/1 Ardkilly Witness, Baileys Concerto, Comeonginger, Ely Brown, Golden Hoof, Granville Island, Last Time d'Albain, Loosen My Load, Make A Track, Persian Snow, Rathlin, Rogue Angel, Sa Suffit, Sew On Target, Six Stone Ned, Standing Ovation, Vino Griego, Wings Of Smoke

              33/1 Annacotty, Ballygarvey, Bobcatbilly, Fairy Rath, Festive Affair, Galway Jack, Lamboro Lad, Letbeso, Maggio, Majala, Montoya's Son, Renard, Tenor Nivernais, Theatre Guide, Turban, Witness In Court, Your Busy


              40/1 Astigos, Deciding Moment, Kings Grey, Up To Something, Upepito, Workbench


              50/1 One Term


              66/1 Action Master, Settledoutofcourt

              1/4 1-2-3-4


              Betfred spokesman Andrew Griffiths said: "The Topham is one of the most exciting races of the entire year and the betting is typically open.

              "Of the market leaders, Eastlake looks particularly interesting considering he finished third in the race last year."

              Comment


              • #8
                The Crabbie's Topham Chase
                Class 1, Grade 3, £120,000 Total Prize Fund. Aintree, Friday, April 10, 2015, two miles, five furlongs, 110 yards. For five-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after March 29, a winner of a chase 4lb, no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed March 24, entries revealed March 25 (67 entries), six-day confirmations April 4, final declarations 10am, Thursday, April 9.

                Horse Age Owner Trainer
                ACTION MASTER 9 Jim Beaumont, Douglas Pryde & Quona Thomson Sandy Thomson
                ANNACOTTY (IRE) 7 Mrs Peter Prowting Martin Keighley
                ARDKILLY WITNESS (IRE) 9 Chris Stedman & Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland
                ART OF LOGISTICS (IRE) 7 Munnelly Support Services Ltd Sandra Hughes IRE
                ASTIGOS (FR) 8 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
                BAILEYS CONCERTO (IRE) 9 United Five Racing & Mr Andrew Sayer Dianne Sayer
                BALLYCASEY (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
                BALLYGARVEY (FR) 9 The Dark Horse Syndicate Philip Hobbs
                BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 9 Allan Stennett David Pipe
                BENNYS MIST (IRE) 9 Mezzone Family Venetia Williams
                BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 10 Richard Gilbert Gordon Elliott IRE
                BOBCATBILLY (IRE) 9 P J Vogt Ian Williams
                BRIGHT NEW DAWN (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Sandra Hughes IRE
                COMEONGINGER (IRE) 8 Mr & Mrs Michael Coates Chris Gordon
                DARNA 9 Julie Martin and David Martin Kim Bailey
                DECIDING MOMENT (IRE) 9 William Tyrer Ben De Haan
                EASTLAKE (IRE) 9 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
                ELY BROWN (IRE) 10 Countrywide Vehicle Rentals Taxi Hire Charlie Longsdon
                FAIRY RATH (IRE) 9 Mrs C L Kyle Nick Gifford
                FESTIVE AFFAIR (IRE) 7 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
                GALWAY JACK (IRE) 10 Mrs M E Moody Caroline Bailey
                GOLDEN HOOF (IRE) 7 The Hoof Partnership Nicky Henderson
                GRANVILLE ISLAND (IRE) 8 Mr P And Mrs G A Clarke Jennie Candlish
                HUNT BALL (IRE) 10 Atlantic Equine Nicky Henderson
                KINGS GREY (IRE) 11 John Wade John Wade
                LAMBORO LAD (IRE) 10 Mickey Bowen Peter Bowen
                LAST TIME D'ALBAIN (FR) 11 Fontstown Syndicate Liam Cusack IRE
                LETBESO (IRE) 7 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen
                LOOSEN MY LOAD (IRE) 11 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
                MAGGIO (FR) 10 Douglas Pryde/Jim Beaumont Patrick Griffin IRE
                MAJALA (FR) 9 Sharon Nelson, Jeremy & Darren Taylor Tom George
                MAKE A TRACK (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
                MONETAIRE (FR) 9 Allan Stennett David Pipe
                MONTOYA'S SON (IRE) 10 Straightline Construction Ltd Keith Dalgleish
                ONE TERM (IRE) 8 Miss L Reid & G Costelloe Rebecca Curtis
                PERSIAN SNOW (IRE) 9 D R Peppiatt Philip Hobbs
                POOLE MASTER 10 G Thompson David Pipe
                RAJDHANI EXPRESS 8 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
                RATHLIN 10 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
                REBEL REBELLION (IRE) 10 Woodhouse, Sutton & Dobson Paul Nicholls
                RENARD (FR) 10 ROA Arkle Partnership Venetia Williams
                ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
                RUBEN COTTER (IRE) 9 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
                RUBI LIGHT (FR) 10 Bill Hennessy Robert Hennessy IRE
                SA SUFFIT (FR) 12 Friel Humbert Kesson Wilson Craig Farm James Ewart
                SAVELLO (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
                SETTLEDOUTOFCOURT (IRE) 9 Andrew McAllister Lucinda Russell
                SEW ON TARGET (IRE) 10 A Selway Colin Tizzard
                SIX STONE NED (IRE) 9 Desperado Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
                SOME TIKKET (IRE) 8 K S Jones/David Monaghan Sandra Hughes IRE
                SOUND INVESTMENT (IRE) 7 Owners Group 001 Paul Nicholls
                SPLASH OF GINGE 7 J D Neild Nigel Twiston-Davies
                STANDING OVATION (IRE) 8 The Bravo Partnership David Pipe
                TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) 8 Mr Muhammad Nadeem Khan Venetia Williams
                THE PACKAGE 12 The Johnson Family David Pipe
                THEATRE GUIDE (IRE) 8 Mrs Jean R Bishop Colin Tizzard
                THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 8 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard
                TURBAN (FR) 8 E O'Connell Willie Mullins IRE
                UP TO SOMETHING (FR) 7 E M G Roberts Charlie Longsdon
                UPEPITO (FR) 7 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
                VINO GRIEGO (FR) 10 Chris Stedman Gary Moore
                WINGS OF SMOKE (IRE) 10 Pearn's Pharmacies Ltd Tim Vaughan
                WITNESS IN COURT (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
                WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 7 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls
                WORKBENCH (FR) 7 N W Lake Dan Skelton
                YOU MUST KNOW ME (IRE) 9 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
                YOUR BUSY (IRE) 12 James Nash James Nash IRE
                67 entries
                17 Irish-trained

                Comment


                • #9
                  I've rewatched the festival plate a couple of times and Rajdhani Express was a big eye catcher. I'm not surprised the 20/1 was snapped up. I still think he's value at 14/1 and have backed him accordingly. The fact that SWC will be in the plate is a big plus over the grand national fences.

                  I've had 3.5pts win and 2pts place at 14/1.

                  Also have him in 1pt each way doubles with Unioniste and Godsmejudge.

                  GL all

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Surprised Ballycasey isn't going for this.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      stats

                      Of the last 33 winners, only two were given hold up rides in that they were not prominent from half-way so this has been a big race for those that like in-running betting. Horses near the pace don’t tend to come back in this race and the Fox Hunters’, so look to a horse who likes to get out there and enjoy itself. Until 2007, the Topham was limited to horses rated no higher than 150 but now it is open to all comers and a very fine handicap it has become too. Since 2000 only two winners have carried more than 11st to victory and nine of the last 12 winners carried no more than 10st 7lb.

                      Eight of the last 11 Topham winners had run over the Grand National fences.

                      Previous course experience has been a factor with last season’s Topham Chase featuring as many as six winners in the last 11 years followed by the Becher Chase and the Grand Sefton Chase, handicaps which took place on the same day back in December, with three winners apiece in a similar time frame. In fact, eight of the last 11 Topham winners had run over the Grand National fences. The Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November is the first big handicap chase of the season at around the Topham distance and Triolo D’Alene improved massively on his pulled-up effort at Cheltenham when winning this race two years ago giving Nicky Henderson back-to-back Topham winners. The previous winner to contest that prize was also trained by Henderson being Liberthine during the 2006/7 season. Seven Barrows also won with Won’t Be Gone Long in 1990. It is also worth noting that the only two horses who contested the Paddy Power Gold Cup two years ago went on to dominate the Topham with Walkon finishing second to Triolo D’Alene. Sticking with Cheltenham form, with regards to the open handicap chase run at the Festival over a similar distance, the Plate, six Topham winners since 1995 ran in that 2m5f contest but three of them were in the 1990s.

                      In the last 21 runnings as many as 105 horses aged 11 or older have taken part with only the remarkable Always Waining coming out on top when landing his third Topham. Prior to his extraordinary achievement we have to go back to 1993 when Sirrah Jay was successful to locate the last winner aged over ten. Always Waining’s trainer, Peter Bowen, has won four of the last eight runnings and has had two fourths in the last nine years too so it has not all been about his three-time winner.

                      Two French-bred five-year-olds have won; Gwanako and Cyfor Malta. Another, Mon Parrain, was caught after the last fence in 2011 after looking sure to win. Triolo D’Alene and Ma Filleule were two more successful, young, French-bred winners in the last two tear at the age of six but we have to go back to the Jenny Pitman-trained Smith's Man in 1985 for the last British or Irish-bred aged under eight to be successful.

                      Winning form earlier in the season had been present on the profiles of 13 successive winners up until 2005 but, of the subsequent nine winners, only two had won earlier in the season since. A busy campaign is also no negative as 13 winners in the past two decades had run seven times or more in the build up to Aintree.

                      In addition to Henderson also respect Philip Hobbs who has also won two Tophams and he also saddled the runner-up three years ago. As for the Irish, they have registered five victories in total, going back to 1952, but since 1979 they have only hit the target twice. Willie Mullins has won with Its Time For A Win in 2002 and also saddled two seconds, two thirds and a fifth since then so his contenders are also very much respected.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Of the last 28 placed runners during the last seven years…

                        20 were 8-10yos (20-132); other ages were 8-68
                        17 were Irish-breds (17-109); others were 11-91
                        17 ran during the last 16-25 days (17-70); others were 11-130
                        P Bowen had 4 placed (4-12), W Mullins also had 4 (4-8), J O’Neill was 2-5

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER RTF% JOCKEY OR
                          1 36230 Hunt Ball29 10 11-12 Nicky Henderson78 Andrew Tinkler 153
                          2 U4678 Rajdhani Express29 h 8 11-11 Nicky Henderson78 Mr S Waley-Cohen3 152
                          3 16F1P7 Splash Of Ginge29 7 11-10 Nigel Twiston-Davies56 Ryan Hatch5 151
                          4 4F510 Turban28 8 11-10 W P Mullins61 R Walsh 151
                          5 8-3P10 Annacotty31 b 7 11-8 Martin Keighley25 Gavin Sheehan 149
                          6 3-5P32 Eastlake28 9 11-7 Jonjo O´Neill57 A P McCoy 148
                          7 F616P8 Poole Master41 tb 10 11-6 David Pipe69 Paul Moloney 147
                          8 9F7523 Rathlin13 t 10 11-6 M F Morris18 Brian O'Connell 147
                          9 7/1571 Darna29 t 9 11-6 Kim Bailey55 David Bass 147
                          10 211054 Art Of Logistics203 7 11-3 Ms Sandra Hughes58 Paul Carberry 144
                          11 9P342 Bennys Mist41 9 11-2 Venetia Williams25 Aidan Coleman 143
                          12 PP-312 Monetaire29 tp 9 11-2 David Pipe69 Tom Scudamore 143
                          13 2-1640 Theatre Guide31 tp 8 11-1 Colin Tizzard88 Daryl Jacob 142
                          14 0-0215 Sew On Target76 10 11-1 Colin Tizzard88 Brendan Powell 142
                          15 F/93-1 Ruben Cotter27 9 11-1 Paul Nicholls73 Sam Twiston-Davies 142
                          16 5-4323 Maggio53 t 10 10-12 Patrick Griffin Brian Hughes 139
                          17 951015 Bobcatbilly20 9 10-10 Ian Williams33 Will Kennedy 137
                          18 4-146 Ballygarvey41 9 10-10 Philip Hobbs58 Tom O'Brien 137
                          19 1-P57F Some Tikket82 8 10-9 Ms Sandra Hughes58 J J Burke3 136
                          20 21-60F Witness In Court99 8 10-8 Donald McCain50 Wayne Hutchinson 135
                          21 324142 Bless The Wings29 p 10 10-7 Gordon Elliott24 Davy Condon 134
                          22 6P3223 Granville Island34 8 10-7 Jennie Candlish50 Peter Carberry 134
                          23 12442 Wings Of Smoke41 t 10 10-7 Tim Vaughan89 Richard Johnson 134
                          24 P11111 Montoya´s Son14 10 10-6 Keith Dalgleish33 Brian Harding 133
                          25 50-5FP Up To Something111 h1 7 10-5 Charlie Longsdon50 Denis O'Regan 132
                          26 3-5195 Fairy Rath41 t 9 10-4 Nick Gifford25 Tom Cannon 131
                          27 12238 Deciding Moment153 t 9 10-4 Ben De Haan Jack Doyle 131
                          28 P623U6 Kings Grey20 p 11 10-3 John Wade20 Henry Brooke 130
                          29 19-P79 Festive Affair28 7 10-0 Jonjo O´Neill57 Richie McLernon 127
                          30 U-2PF6 Standing Ovation29 tb1 8 10-0 David Pipe69 Conor O'Farrell 127
                          Last edited by Old Vic; 9 April 2015, 05:04 PM.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Your busy capable of a big run if he gets in. Katie up ?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Anyone worried about Raj Express after day Henderson has had ?

                              Comment

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