Geraghty and Henderson warm up for the Grand National with stunning treble
After winning the opener, the International Festival For Business 2014 Top Novices’ Hurdle, on 6/4 favourite Josses Hill, the duo combined again to win an action-packed Crabbie’s Supporting Everton In The Community Topham Chase on 9/1 shot Ma Filleule before completing a remarkable hat-trick by winning the Grade 1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle with 6/1 shot Beat That.
Geraghty, who rides Triolo D’Alene for Henderson in today’s feature, was particularly pleased with Beat That’s run. He said: “We have always liked Beat That a lot. I fancied him today and thought he would run a big race. He probably travelled a little too well. He’s a novice and missed the second last but he was very good at the last.”
Henderson said: “We had to leave him alone for the winter, with the weather, the ground and everything, but that was a good performance. He’s growing up.”
The Topham Chase, the second part of the Geraghty-Henderson treble thanks to Ma Filleule, was the most dramatic race of the day with four jockeys scheduled to ride in today’s National suffering injuries.
Paul Carberry, due to ride Monbeg Dude and Mikey Fogarty, down to ride Vesper Bell were taken to Aintree University Hospital after falls from Kauto Stone and Bishopsfurze respectively. Huntball’s jockey Andrew Tinkler and Rocky Creek’s rider Noel Fehily were both stood down for the day after falls from Tanks For That and Fago. All four will have to pass the doctor to ride today.
Amid the carnage, Geraghty and Ma Filleule claimed victory by a decisive eight lengths.
“The biggest problem I had was getting Ma Filleule to go in to the fences on a short stride,” Geraghty said. “She wanted to go long on everything and take the fences on but she did jump brilliantly. It wasn’t the plan to be in front and that’s the difference with the Grand National fences – in a normal handicap she would have been a little bit outpaced, but she jumps so well that you end up getting to the front sooner than you would like.”
Henderson added: “I was a bit worried she might get outpaced early on but she managed to hold her place and then she got into a great rhythm. It looked as if Barry had a nice time.”
Earlier, Henderson revealed Josses Hill will go over fences after building on his Supreme Novices’ second to Vatour at Cheltenham to win the opener.
“The horse is more of a chaser and I suspect next season we will be taking the chasing route. We won’t be going to Punchestown as I don’t want to get thumped by (Vatour trainer) Mr Mullins!”
Speaking of Mr Mullins, he recorded his first Aintree win since Hedgehunter won the 2005 Grand National as Boston Bob triumphed in the Grade 1 Betfred Melling Chase.
“A bit of nice ground helped Boston Bob today,” Mullins said. “He has plenty of time to go on to Punchestown now and his owners will probably have two runners in the Gold Cup there with this horse and On His Own.”
Paul Townend, deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh in the saddle, was understandably elated. “He answered every call, even after the last he picked up really well and galloped to the line. It was a lovely performance. I thought I was in trouble jumping the fourth last, but I wanted to hang on to him a bit and he quickened up well. He seems to have sorted himself out and deserved that.”
Tony McCoy was also a happy man yesterday after Holywell romped to victory in the Grade 1 Betfred Mobile Mildmay Novices Chase.
McCoy believes the seven-year-old could be a potential Gold Cup horse in the future.
“He’s improved with every run this season and now we know he needs to be aggressively ridden in his races. He’s not a very big horse but he’s got a big heart and it makes a big difference when they want to win like he does.
“I would never have said before today that he could be a Gold Cup horse but he has beaten all those pretty convincingly today. On form, he is probably the best staying novice chaser around.”
Asked if Holywell could be a Gold Cup horse, trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: “You would have to think about it. He really jumped well today.”
Gordon Elliott was pleased with the run from runner-up Don Cossack and said he may now run at Punchestown.
