Ratings Update: Aintree Festival

It’s rare for any runner in a Grand National to have the ‘p’ symbol next to his Timeform rating that denotes he’s still open to improvement. Experience counts for a lot around Aintree and the majority of the runners have been round the block a few times. But One For Arthur had a more unexposed profile, having run only ten times over fences, while it’s only recently that his stamina – clearly his strong suit as he showed on Saturday – has really been tested. He therefore retains his ‘p’ (157p from 148p), his performance all the more praiseworthy given that he came from a long way back in a race that, as is often the case in the National, didn’t favour such tactics. He has the makings of a high-class staying chaser, though of course he’ll have a lot more weight if returning to Aintree next year.

In the absence of any of the Gold Cup principals, Thursday’s Betway Bowl was fought out by a couple who’d failed to complete at Cheltenham. A waiting ride from Lizzie Kelly helped Tea For Two (166 from 161) to put up a career-best effort in gamely getting the better of last year’s winner Cue Card (dropped from 174 to 171) who had much more use made of him. Tea For Two’s early departure in the Gold Cup probably proved a blessing in disguise as far as this race was concerned, though he’ll face more competitive Grade 1 events than this down the line.

Cue Card’s defeat was one of the few disappointments of an outstanding meeting for his trainer Colin Tizzard, and Fox Norton’s impressive victory in the Melling Chase (170 from 166) over reliable Ryanair runner-up Sub Lieutenant (remains on 167) represented further improvement for the winner who had gone down narrowly in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Fox Norton clearly relished the extra half-mile here, though his stamina’s not guaranteed if going for next season’s King George.

A step up in trip also did the trick for Fox Norton’s stable-companions Ultragold (138§ from 135§), who caused a 50/1 upset in the Topham Chase, and for Sizing Codelco (151 from 141) who routed his field in the listed handicap chase on the Grand National card, the latter another successful – and improved – recruit to the yard this season in the colours of Ann and Alan Potts. Topham runner-up Katnap is another who’s done for a well for a change of stable this season and survived notable jumping errors to record a career-best (135 from 132) for Joseph O’Brien.

Aintree’s novice chases were all characterised by small fields, though that’s not to say there weren’t performances of note. Nicky Henderson stable-companions Might Bite and Whisper repeated their one-two from the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in the Mildmay. While their rematch lacked the drama of their first encounter and Might Bite didn’t need to improve his rating (remains on 166), he turned in a much more professional display this time and looks very much a King George type for next season. Whisper showed some improvement (159 from 156) in finishing clear of the rest although beaten a bit further this time.

Arkle runner-up Cloudy Dream (remains on 153) was another who had to settle for second place again as he found Flying Angel (154 from 149) too strong in the Manifesto Novices’. The likeable winner didn’t get the chance to show what he could do when badly hampered in the JLT at Cheltenham and looks the type to do well in handicaps next season.

The Maghull took a bit less winning than the other novice chases but didn’t lack for drama, with San Benedeto (152 from 151) snatching an opportunistic win after looking only third-best at the final fence. Paul Nicholls’ other runner Politologue (153 from 152) jumped it in front only to trip strides later which should have handed victory to Forest Bihan (151 from 146), though he looked reluctant to accept the gift that had been presented to him. Politologue was in the process of running well on his first try at two miles and looks the best prospect among these. A couple of smart novices also fought out the finish of the Red Rum Handicap Chase over two miles in which Double W’s (142 from 139) beat the Grand Annual third Theinval (146 from 145).

Neither of Aintree’s two big hurdles had too many repercussions for the ratings of those involved. Champion Hurdle principals Buveur d’Air and My Tent Or Yours  finished one-two again in the Aintree Hurdle (they remain rated 170 and 163 respectively), while Yanworth , who had disappointed at Cheltenham, didn’t need to run up to his best two-mile form (remains on 164) when all out to return to winning ways stepped up to three miles in the Liverpool Hurdle. Supasundae (157 from 154) and Snow Falcon (156 from 154) showed a little improvement to be placed.

The two handicap hurdles on Grand National day had improved winners in the form of Chesterfield (142 from 132) in the conditionals/amateurs event and novice Fountains Windfall (145+ from 136) who was by no means flattered when making all to win the three-mile contest unchallenged on his first try at the trip.

The most interesting handicap hurdle of the meeting, though, was the well-contested two and a half mile contest won by the progressive Nicky Henderson-trained novice Rather Be (142p from 138). Runner-up Dream Berry also improved (138 from 133), while another novice Geordie des Champs (140p from 133) shaped well in third. Although fourth-placed Thomas Campbell, a stable-companion of the winner, has had his rating pulled down (138p from 143p), he remains very much of interest when stepped up to three miles.

Pick of the performances in novice hurdles came from potential future star Finian’s Oscar (151p from 142P) who had to miss Cheltenham but kept his unbeaten record when winning a strong renewal of the Mersey Novices’ for the in-form Tizzard/Potts team. He stayed on strongly back over this longer trip and is an exciting prospect for next season when due to go over fences. The Dan Skelton-trained runner-up Captain Forez had also missed Cheltenham (hadn’t run since December, in fact) but improved markedly (148p from 125p) and retains his novice status for next season. He’s a chaser on looks and another who’ll stay further.

The much-improved Pingshou (146 from 128) was a more surprising winner for Finian’s Oscar’s connections in the Top Novices’ Hurdle. It was a muddling renewal, however, and the winner enjoyed the run of the race to a far greater degree than runner-up Mount Mews (141p from 140p) who remains an exciting prospect.

The Sefton Novices’ over three miles was a more truly-run affair, though it resulted in a bunched finish in which The Worlds End, a faller two out in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, emerged just the best. He didn’t need to improve on previous form (remains 146p), but runner-up Beyond Conceit (144p from 142) was suited by the markedly longer trip, while Debece (144 from 131), another trying three miles for the first time, ran much his best race to take a close third.

There was no threat to Defi du Seuil’s dominance of the juvenile division in the Anniversary Hurdle, hence his rating remains unchanged (151p), but Fred Winter runner-up Divin Bere (140 from 139) ran well behind him in second, while third-placed Bedrock was the big improver (134 from 114p) on just his second start over hurdles.

Cheltenham form was represented in the Grade 2 bumper but the first two showed marked improvement after winning ordinary contests on their previous starts, with the 33/1 shot Lalor (116 from 104) getting the better of Enniscoffey Oscar (113 from 95+) who shaped really well after meeting some trouble.