The fields may have been small, however the quality was not lacking at Aintree on Sunday as some of jump racings biggest names and potential future stars made their seasonal bows.
Highlight of the afternoon was the Old Roan chase, only four runners but what a field? Last seasons all conquering star Kauto Star, throw in the Gold Cup runner up exotic dancer plus classy runners Monets Garden and Ashley Brook. Four runners with not far short of £2m prize money between them. The race did not disappoint. Ashley Brook took the field along, closely attended my Monets Garden. The former took a fall four from home whilst, by contrast, Monets Garden put in an exhibition round. Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer were happy to let the other two take the lead, although it has to be said coming out of the far turn on the last occasion neither looked to be giving 100% effort and, as is not unusual, Kauto Star’s jumping looked far from fluent at times. Come the business end, Exotic Dancer did disappoint and one has to ask if he was 100% fit. Monets Garden continued his faultless display and approaching the second last it looked as though Kauto Star was once again going to demonstrate his supremacy. However he fiddled the fence, jumping to his left, then continuing to hang left. He did at least clear the last without going through the top and on the run in it was clear Monets Garden was going to be the only winner. Kauto Star lost nothing in defeat, he did look rusty but the concession of a stone to the winner surely told.
In the first race we saw one the latest from the McManus / O’Neill / McCoy combo with Crocodiles Rock attempting to emulate Whicita Lineman’s victory in the same race last year. By one of those strange quirks of coincidence Crocodiles Rock duly won the race by the same winning distance as last years winner, seven lengths. The runners set off, if that is a fair description, at a funereal pace, so much so it is a wonder they had sufficient momentum to clear the first obstacle. The winners jumping action was not particularly fluent. Tracking the leaders he made his challenge between the final two flights and once in the lead he was never going to be beaten. The muddling pace and frankly poor jumping from his opponents makes it difficult to say just how good this winner may be. My impression was the victory was more workmanlike than stunning.
The second race, saw the anticipated clash between Tidal Bay from the Howard Johnson yard and O’Neill’s Albertas Run. Although they filled the first two places, the clash was something of an anti-climax with Tidal Bay running out a decisive 22 length winner and seemingly with plenty in hand. Albertas Run was let down by his jumping which, to be charitable, was less than fluent and on more than one occasion it looked as though McCoy would end up on the deck. Tidal Bay looks to be a good prospect for the upcoming season.
Katchit was the star of the next, facing only three opponents, including the not unfancied Degas Art, this classy hurdler was conceding a stone plus to his rivals. The outsider Is It Me ensured there was, at least, a decent pace leading until the fourth, where Mobaasher took up the running. Come the last however it was the two principles who were contesting the lead. It was Katchit who performed the stronger in the run in and despite the weight concession he beat his rival by 1¾ lengths. In truth Degas Art was not that impressive, clouting the fourth quite hard and running off a true line in the closing stages.
The only other race worth mentioning was the 2 mile handicap chase at 3:50. Once again a race was ruined as six of the twelve fences were omitted for safety reasons, due to a low sun shining down the home straight.