Racecards
16:20 Aintree
Martell Cognac Red Rum Handicap Chase (Class A)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Form 564126
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr R M P McNally
held up in touch, headway 8th, led 2 out, soon headed, kept on one pace
- Form 4F1-502
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
chased leaders, headway and effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 313F12
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon ridden and no impression
- Form 64/61F1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
towards rear, reminders 6th, pushed along 8th, headway under pressure 2 out, kept on flat
- Form P13633
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
in touch, blundered badly and lost place 2nd, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 14-3210
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
in touch, lost place 5th, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Tidour (FR)
16- Form 3/1221F
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
mid-divison, headway 4 out, led after 2 out, soon clear
- Form 534P00
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
towards rear, lost touch halfway
- Form 122111
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey C O'Dwyer
led, mistake 1st, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened
Tysou (FR)
33- Form 1-F2305
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
tracked leaders, weakened quickly after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form P403/1U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
towards rear, headway 8th, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, one pace when mistake last
- Form P-542F2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey Paul Carberry
towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 4-42226
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey R McGrath
in touch, mistake 5th, weakened after 7th
In depth
Verdict
St Pirran looks to hold a solid chance of following up his Cheltenham Festival success and gets our vote ahead of the runner-up there, Ground Ball, Tidour, Jurado Express and Duke Of Buckingham. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection has been raised 11 pounds for his Grand Annual win and is now four pounds worse off at the weights with Ground Ball for the two-and-a-half lengths that he beat him that day. However, he looked to have a little in hand, having travelled well throughout the race under Ruby Walsh, and looks set to go well again. Old Marsh, who was sixth in the same race, is now 14lbs better off with the selection for the near-26 lengths that he was beaten by him at Cheltenham, so, all things being equal, will have to go some to gain his revenge. Duke Of Buckingham comes into this race on an upward curve, having won his last three races. He handles a sharp track and good going very well so is entitled to plenty of respect in this race. Martin Pipe's Golden Alpha won this race last year from a 13lb lower mark than today and, while that gives him a bit to do, he looked to be coming to hand last time when second at Haydock, so do not rule out a respectable showing. Bleu Superbe was pulled up in this race last year and has 11 lengths to find on Golden Alpha based on their Haydock runs, while Ei Ei has run some gallant races in defeat this season but will need a career-best effort to win today. However Tidour was in the process of running a very good race when falling in the Arkle Chase last time, so do not be surprised if he goes well. Latalomne was well behind St Pirran at Cheltenham but Jurado Express has an 18 pounds turnaround at the weights for the eased-down 12 lengths he finished behind Ground Ball on good to yielding going at Thurles in January, and that was his first run for eight months. He too could go well, as could Simply Gifted, who unseated rider at the second fence in the Grand Annual, but who is reasonably weighted on the best of his form. In conclusion, then, St Pirran is taken to follow up his Festival win.