Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Sports World

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Albertas set to defend Melling title Posted: 19 Apr 2011 07:42 AM PDT Jonjo O'Neill's dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run is set to take his chance at Aintree on Friday in the Grade 1 John Smith's Melling Chase, a race he won 12 months ago when completing a big festival double following his win at Cheltenham three weeks earlier representing the best of Irish racing, writes Elliot Slater. The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding is famous for blossoming in the spring sunshine, but having had a fairly torrid time of things during the winter (including when taking a terrible fall at Ascot in November in the Amlin1965 Chase), he went to Cheltenham last month appearing to have it all to do to even to be competitive in the Ryanair Chase, a race he had won in brilliant fashion 12 months earlier when beating Poquelin by four-and-a-half-lengths. Prior to the off there was a flood of money for Albertas Run forcing his odds down to just 6/1 making him a top racing tip, the signs surely having been there that he had scented spring in the air and he duly stormed up the Cheltenham hill to beat Kalahari King by a length. Aintree also seems to bring out the best in the Accordion gelding and O'Neill reports his stable favourite to have come out of his Cheltenham race very well and is hoping he will give a very good account of himself on Friday as he bids to repeat his three-length win in the race last year when beating Forpadydeplaster. Old adversaries Kalahari King and Poquelin are amongst the 15 runners declared at the five-day stage for the Melling Chase, other notable entries including dual champion chaser Master Minded, Henrietta Knight's up-and-coming Somersby, the smart Tranquil Sea who missed Cheltenham but is reportedly fit and raring to go once again, Tom George's useful Nacarat, and the grand old timer Voy Por Ustedes.

Gold Cup winner Long Run an Aintree possible Posted: 19 Apr 2011 04:41 AM PDT Nicky Henderson has suggested that if the ground is decent at Aintree his tremendously impressive Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run could take his chance and be in the top betting tips at Aintree next week in the feature Grade 1 Totesport Bowl Chase, writes Elliot Slater. Long Run put up one of the best performances of recent seasons when outpointing former champions Denman and Kauto Star under a great ride from his amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, and connections have been weighing up the options ever since and considering whether or not to ask the talented six-year-old to run again this term. Henderson and the gelding's owner Robert Waley-Cohen have already ruled out a trip to France for Long Run, but Henderson has suggested that as long as the ground isn't quick at Aintree on the Mildmay course his Gold Cup winner could well make the starting line-up and may face Denman and Imperial Commander (unplaced at Cheltenham last time out), once again. Following the best horse racing tips, if the ground is too quick for Long Run at the Merseyside track he will be roughed off for the rest of the season having not only won the Gold Cup this term but also romped away with the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton at the beginning of the year. The flat, galloping track at Aintree should play to the strengths of Long Run who last season showed how quick he is in winning a high-level novice chase over the minimum trip of two miles. Henderson has indicated he will continue to train the French-bred star with the intention of him running next week and the horse will undergo a school session with jumping maestro Yogi Breisner just as he did in the build-up to his stunning effort in the Gold Cup.

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