Maghull Novices Chase 2015 (2 miles)

[mayo]

Ian McClean

It will be interesting to see what connections do next with Josses Hill. In spite of having the mould of a chaser his aptitude for fencing has been lacking all season. While jumping better in the Arkle, he is still far from the finished article. A decisive winner at Aintree last season, following a place behind Vautour at Cheltenham, he is certain to show up again this term. However, whether it is for the two-mile Maghull Novices or the half-mile longer Manifesto Chase is the open question. A step up in trip would be of great help at this stage to the Henderson horse and could just be the making of him finally over the large ones, but should Josses Hill remain at two miles then he is a favourite I would be very keen to oppose as the sharper track and stiffer fences at Aintree would likely be his undoing.

The horse I would be most interested in for the Maghull is Court Minstrel. The Evan Williams inmate struggled on the soft ground, yet finished just over 10 lengths behind Josses Hill at Cheltenham. Court Minstrel loves Aintree - he won a handicap hurdle there last year carrying top-weight off a mark of 147 and finished fourth in the championship bumper in 2012 - and is a stone better horse on fast ground. Williams does particularly well at Aintree, including his Grand National record for getting horses placed, and while he might have gone to Cheltenham merely with hope in his heart, he can visit Liverpool more in expectation.

 

[shoods]

looking at some stats 14 of last 17 winners ran in the arkle at cheltenham

 

[Morning Glory]

looking at some stats 14 of last 17 winners ran in the arkle at cheltenham

Sergeant Reckless on better ground ?

 

[Morning Glory]

"God's Own is entered in three races at Aintree.He's in the two-mile and two-and-a-half-mile novice chases and the Melling Chase," said George.

"He has taken Cheltenham unbelievably well. He had a blip in the middle of the winter as he hates that heavy ground.He won't have that next year as he won't run on it.

"He is a Grade One horse and there was no fluke about his wins. I think everyone now knows just how good he is.

"He might have a couple more runs in him this season as he could go to either Punchestown or Sandown as well, we will just have to see."

 

[Yeehaa]

Willie is going to scare them off


Arkle Trophy hero Un De Sceaux is set to playing a leading role on Crabbie's Grand National day at Aintree on Saturday after he was given the green light to run in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase.
The seven-year-old's only defeat from 13 career starts came when he fell at Thurles on his chasing debut in November and he has since secured a hat-trick of victories, culminating in a brilliant front-running display at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Willie Mullins said : "We're keen to go there with him. I'm happy with the ground."
Un De Sceaux could well cross paths with Arkle runner-up God's Own, the third home, Josses Hill, and the fourth-placed Vibrato Valtat.
Henry de Bromhead's Sizing Granite, a winner of his last two starts at Naas and Leopardstown, is another intriguing Irish contender among 13 confirmations

 

[Deleted member 4957]

"God's Own is entered in three races at Aintree.He's in the two-mile and two-and-a-half-mile novice chases and the Melling Chase," said George.

"He has taken Cheltenham unbelievably well. He had a blip in the middle of the winter as he hates that heavy ground.He won't have that next year as he won't run on it.

"He is a Grade One horse and there was no fluke about his wins. I think everyone now knows just how good he is.

"He might have a couple more runs in him this season as he could go to either Punchestown or Sandown as well, we will just have to see."

I backed Gods Own in the Arkle and thought he held every chance but met the last all wrong, someone told me he was backed at 1.23 on the 'fair in running which is an incredible price, not sure he was ever favourite to win the race (certainly not 4s on !) but he would have been a hell of alot closer but for the last, every chance the market will read the form too literally and the fav will be too short IMO

 

[Old Vic]

I backed Gods Own in the Arkle and thought he held every chance but met the last all wrong, someone told me he was backed at 1.23 on the 'fair in running which is an incredible price, not sure he was ever favourite to win the race (certainly not 4s on !) but he would have been a hell of alot closer but for the last, every chance the market will read the form too literally and the fav will be too short IMO

Gods Own us a good horse but UDS different gravy imo. Won't be backing him at 1/3 on ir whatever they price it at though !

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Gods Own us a good horse but UDS different gravy imo. Won't be backing him at 1/3 on ir whatever they price it at though !

I agree.
I thought UDS may be vulnerable if something put it to him but the way he took the last and cleared away up the hill proves he has the lot, impressed me hugely that day....