I usually like to compare times between races on the same day; however the weather was so erratic that I will need to tread more carefully than usual as I suspect that the going was very different at the end of the day compared with the ground these novice chasers competed on in the first race
Kalashnikov
4th April 2019 – Aintree – This is quite a difficult race to sum up as all bar the favourite made at least one major error. This one’s turn for a serious blunder came two out as he took up the running. He barely got off the ground and really smashed through the fence losing ground and momentum in the process. He tied up in the last 100 yards but whether he was running out of gas or idling I am not sure. The third horse home is probably a reasonable marker for this form in relation to the JLT Chase at Cheltenham.
La Bague Au Roi
4th April 2019 – Aintree – Maybe her connections will be regretting dropping back in trip after this defeat. She put in the best round of jumping in what turned out to be a real slog in the windy conditions.
Mengli Khan
4th April 2019 – Aintree – He made a serious blunder three out which cost him a good couple of lengths. He could be the most reliable marker for that Cheltenham form in the JLT.
Spiritofthegames
4th April 2019 – Aintree – He made a serious blunder at the 10th and hit the last down the far side which proved to be his final undoing.
Bags Groove
4th April 2019 – Aintree – He was put off by a horse jumping across him at the third fence. He does seem to be a horse that needs everything to go right for him.
Glen Forsa
4th April 2019 – Aintree – He seemed to be going well until smashing through the 10th fence and quickly dropping away as a result.