Ustedes set to swerve Aintree

Newly-crowned Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Voy Por Ustedes is likely to have run his last race this season.

Wednesday’s success brought a long-thought-out plan to fruition and connections are leaning against running at Aintree.

Voy Por Ustedes ran a shade below-par when bidding to supplement his Arkle win at the Merseyside venue last season when he finished second to Foreman in the Maghull Novices’ Chase.

“We’ve said all along our main objective was to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase and what happened before was not so important,” explained owner Sir Robert Ogden’s racing manager, Barry Simpson.

“It went pretty well for us and we’ve had a good season. I think we made a bit of a mistake last season by running at Aintree immediately after the Arkle.

“He probably might have been a little over the top then – although I don’t want to take anything away from Foreman, who beat us fair and square on the day.

“I think it’s a wise decision to stick to the plan and it’s unlikely we’ll go to Aintree.

“It’s a two-and-a-half-mile race as well and we could go to Punchestown – but we must remember this horse is young,” he told At The Races.