Racecards
14:10 Aintree
Halloween At Matalan Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Form 21/1111-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, slightly hampered when left 3rd 7th, effort 11th, driven and outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression with leading pair
Door Boy (IRE)
204- Form 12530P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
always prominent, left clear 2nd 7th, headway to join leader when blundered 4 out, ridden to lead between last 2, stayed on flat
- Form 5799-22
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
disputing 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 7th
- Form 112141-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
led, joined 4 out, driven and headed between last 2, ridden and kept on same pace flat
- Form 75711/3-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up in rear when fell 9th
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
We may just have the five runners lining up for this Novices' Chase but it looks a good contest and CAPPA BLEU looks an exciting prospect having won the Foxhunters Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on his rules debut so is given our vote in preference to Khachaturian and Little Josh. After progressing nicely in the point to point scene the pick ran a blinder to easily beat some useful types to that festival title. We can expect more from Evan Williams' charge on his seasonal bow and given that he should take all the beating. Khachaturian has started his chase career well in two starts this season, finishing second best in both. If repeating his last run when he was just touched off he should go close but it looks significant that his pilot that day, Tony McCoy, has chosen to partner our selection. Little Josh makes his fencing debut but has a chance if running up to his timber form while Door Boy ran in some top hurdles races last year and if taking to life in this sphere he has to be considered a threat. This race could give us some useful pointers for the rest of the season and Cappa Bleu looks the best choice.
Formwatch
Cappa Bleu (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, prominent from 13th, took narrow lead approaching 2 out, edged left soon after last, stayed on well to draw clear final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gs in Mar beating Turthen (12-0) by 12l, 24 ran.
Door Boy (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, soon tracking leader, led 5th, headed 8th, soon led again, headed 3 out, disputing 6th and beaten when eased and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bouggler (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Apr, 17 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 7-4 (11-2) Led until after 5th, pressed leader, led 8th to 9th, led 10th, driven after 3 out, headed narrowly before 2 out, kept battling away, just lost out in driving finish, 2nd of 5, shd behind Seven Is My Number (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f noc chs (3) gd.
Little Josh (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Made all, driven clear 2 out, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating The Gossmoor Yank (11-11) by 4l, 6 ran.
Supreme Builder 11-4 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway 8th, went 3rd went not fluent 9th, held when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Starburst Diamond (10-8) at Bangor 3m nov hdl (4) gs in May '08.