The end of season National Hunt festivals are coming at us thick and fast at the minute and no sooner had we put Cheltenham in the form book we now have to bid the Aintree Grand National meeting a heartfelt goodbye for another season.
Outside of the John Smith's Aintree Grand National itself there were plenty of performances to get excited about and here are 3 horses from last week's high class action that caught my attention for one reason or another -
GRANDIOSO (2-2-6-0-0 (10) / 2.33 / 0.60)
9th in Aintree Champion Bumper
The Howard Johnson 4yo first caught my eye when steamrollering his opponents at Musselburgh on his racecourse debut. He again travelled powerfully in this Grade 2 to make a challenge on the leaders turning for home but ultimately his challenge could not be sustained. There is every chance he found the ground a bit too lively and a return to ground with more cut in it should be more to his liking (won Musselburgh bumper on soft). His sire Westerner (2nd in Hurricane Run's Arc) is a stallion I think could make a big impact on the National Hunt scene and we are just starting to get his first jumping runners coming through now (already had a a listed chase winner in France). I expect GRANDIOSO to be the sort to run up a sequence of wins at the north tracks in the early part of the 2011/12 NH season before setting his sights on bigger targets later on in the season.
MON PARRAIN (5-1-10-0-0 (16) / 2.20 / 0.69)
2nd in the Topham Chase
Did he really fail to stay the trip or did Always Waining just stay that bit stronger? I would suggest that the trip was maybe just stretching him a touch but that shouldn't detract from the fact he jumped immaculately round the demanding National fences and travelled just as sweetly. He has now put together two superb rounds of jumping on his two British racecourse appearances (barely touched a twig at Sandown in March) and this 5yo looks like a very exciting prospect for next season whatever the plans may be.
WYSE HILL TEABAGS (2-0-8-4-2 (16) / 0.60 / -0.25)
3rd in Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle
Jim Goldie's gelding has now finished in the top 3 on his last 6 starts (winning 3) but I have the feeling that due to his 'unfashionable' connections he will more often than not be available at value odds (sp of 14-1 or bigger in 5 of last 6 starts). In this 2m4f handicap he met trouble in running at a vital stage but still managed to battle his way through to challenge going to the last where unfortunately he blundered his way over the obstacle. Despite both those setbacks jockey Richie McGrath still managed to galvanise one last effort from the 6yo and he was only beaten just over 1 length at the line. The 20f trip looks to suit him at the moment but in time I could see 3 miles being well within his stamina capabilities.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish young jockey Peter Toole all the best as he battles to recover from a serious head injury he sustained in a fall from Classic Fly on Saturday. I'm sure all NTF readers will join me is sending best wishes to his family and friends.
Ben (NTF)
