One For Arthur is back for another crack at some of Aintree's most famous races - Mark Howard caught up with trainer Lucinda Russell for plans on the whole team.
AURORA THUNDER 6 b m Malinas (GER) – Ninna Nanna (FR)
Very consistent, she exceeded our expectations last season winning over hurdles at Ayr and finishing runner-up on three occasions. Sixth on her return to action at Hexham last month, she is entered at Carlisle on Thursday and may run there. She will stay over hurdles with three miles being her trip. Rated 116, I think her mark is fair.
BIG RIVER (IRE) 10 b g Milan – Call Kate (IRE)
I am delighted with him because he is in great form at home. He won at Kelso in January and then ran very well at the Cheltenham Festival finishing fifth in the Ultima Handicap Chase, which he had finished fourth in the year before. We might start him off at Kelso later this month and then consider a veterans’ chase at Aintree. Long-term, he could be aimed at the Scottish National once again but he does want soft ground.
BOLLINGERANDKRUG (IRE) 5 b g Getaway (GER) – Out Performer (IRE)
He is a nice horse who finished third on his debut in a bumper at Musselburgh in February. I have been pleased with him since and we might give him another run in a bumper before going novice hurdling. He will be suited by two and a half miles over hurdles.
FAIRE PART SIVOLA (FR) 5 b g Noroit (GER) – Lettre D’Estruval (FR)
A very nice addition to the team, he has some good form over hurdles winning at Leicester and finishing second at Wincanton. He has settled in well and is a horse with a lot of ability. The plan is to send him novice chasing over two miles and he is one to look forward to.
GRAND MORNING 8 b g Midnight Legend – Valentines Lady (IRE)
A three times winner over hurdles, he finished second at Ayr in January before contesting a competitive handicap at Sandown last time. He looks well following his summer break but we haven’t decided whether to try him over fences again or stay over hurdles. He stays well and handles soft ground.
HAUL US IN (IRE) 8 br m Kalanisi (IRE) – Shuilan (IRE)
I thought she did very well last season winning over fences at Uttoxeter in January and finishing second at Newcastle on her most recent start. Rated 123, she is a proper long distance staying chaser and we are hoping she could develop into an Eider Chase horse. She will be ready to run next month.
LOOKS LIKE MURT (IRE) 7 b g Well Chosen – Ninetypenceapound (IRE)
A useful horse who won over fences at Kelso on his chasing debut last season. I was pleased with his run over hurdles at Kelso this month when finishing second. I think two and a half to three miles on soft ground are his optimum conditions. Still lightly raced, he is open to more improvement.
LUCKY FLIGHT (FR) 6 b g Linda’s Lad – Lili Flight (FR)
A dual winner over hurdles at Kelso last term, he made a winning start to his chasing career at Perth last month. We then took him to Hexham last time but he only finished fifth. Two miles is his trip and I think he is at his best on right-handed tracks. There is a nice race for him at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day which might suit him.
MAX APPEAL (IRE) 5 b g Kayf Tara – Clairefontaine
I love him and I think he is a tremendous horse. He didn’t surprise us when making a winning start to his career in a bumper at Ayr in March because we have always liked him and had shown us plenty at home beforehand. He will go straight over hurdles and, while he is likely to start off over two miles, he will have no trouble staying further. He likes soft ground and is very much one to look forward to.
MIGHTY THUNDER 7 b g Malinas (GER) – Cool Island (IRE)
Progressed well over hurdles last season winning at Perth and Musselburgh before finishing runner-up in a Pertemps qualifier at the latter track in February. He will come on for his reappearance at Perth last month and, having schooled him over fences since, the plan is for him to go novice chasing. He stays well and will hopefully make a nice chaser.
MINT GOLD (IRE) 6 b g Gold Well – Lady Flyer (IRE)
I am very pleased with him and he has taken well to chasing. Third on his fencing bow at Uttoxeter in August, he won next time at Perth and is rated 116. I thought his jumping at Perth was very good and he is already a better chaser than hurdler. He goes to Kelso for a 0-120 handicap chase (24th October) with good to soft ground being ideal.
ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) 11 b g Milan – Nonnetia (FR)
He is in good form at home and working well. He is likely to reappear once again at Kelso (24th October) and then aim him at the Becher Chase at Aintree in December. All being well, he will be back at Aintree in the spring for another crack at the Grand National.
OPERATION OVERLORD (IRE) 5 b g Jeremy (USA) – Alfreeze
Fourth on his only run over hurdles at Carlisle in December, he had a slight issue afterwards and hasn’t run since. However, he is one to look forward to in novice hurdles. He looks great and will run in a two miles novice hurdle on soft ground this Autumn.
SAINT FREULE (FR) 7 br g Saint Des Saints (FR) – Topsy Blue (FR)
Ran over fences last season winning at Hexham in November but then fell at Ayr last time. It transpired he had broken his pedal bone and therefore hasn’t run since. He is sound again now though and we will give him a run over hurdles before deciding whether to send him back over fences. Two miles is possibly his best trip.
SAINT LEO (FR) 7 b g Maresca Sorrento (FR) – Sainte Lea (FR)
Another new arrival, he has won twice over fences and three times over hurdles and is a lovely scopey horse. We are going to run him over fences and the intention is for him to start off soon.
SOUTHERN GIRL (IRE) 6 ch m Getaway (GER) – She’s Got To Go (IRE)
A lovely mare who won an Irish point-to-point before she joined us. Runner-up on her hurdles debut at Perth last month, she was in the process of running very well again at the same track when parting company with her jockey at the second last. She will continue in mares’ novice hurdles over two and a half miles and hopefully it won’t be long before she gets her head in front.
WITHOUT CONVICTION (IRE) 5 b m Aizavoski (IRE) – With Conviction (IRE)
Yet to run for us, she is another nice mare who finished runner-up in her only Irish point-to-point in March. Bought during the summer, I have been very pleased with her. She jumps really well and will be aimed at mares’ novice hurdles. She looks a staying type.
Mark Howard, author of One Jump Ahead & Racing TV
One Jump Ahead, which includes interviews with Kim Bailey, Harry Fry, Chris Gordon, Philip Hobbs, Anthony Honeyball, Alan King, Tom Lacey, Olly Murphy, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O’Neill, David Pipe and Nicky Richards, plus leading owner Rich Ricci and three times Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Henrietta Knight, can be purchased for £10.99 (including postage) from www.mhpublications.co.uk
