Garden back in bloom
Monet’s Garden added his name to a star-studded roll of honour which includes the likes of Moscow Flyer, Viking Flagship and Direct Route when landing the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree.
Trainer Nicky Richards wore a wide smile when welcoming the grey back to the winner’s enclosure and described the 4-1 shot’s three-and-a-half-length victory as a “big moment” in his training career.
The nine-year-old struck at the highest level at Ascot in February, but put in a lacklustre performance when a hot favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
He could only take fourth behind Taranis on that occasion but comprehensively reversed the placings back on a galloping track and left that rival toiling in second.
Monet’s Garden attacked the majority of his fences with his usual enthusiasm and only had 4-5 market leader Well Chief to contend with after going on three from home.
But the David Pipe-trained Well Chief never really looked like landing a blow against the Greystoke charge and Tony Dobbin’s mount kept up a relentless gallop to collect in stylish fashion.
Richards said: “That was grand, wasn’t it?
“He didn’t come home from Cheltenham 100 per cent and he scoped dirty, but I don’t want to take anything away from the horses who won that day.
“This horse has changed so much in the last 10 days with some sun on his back.
“Fair play to his owner David Yates – he wanted to come here but I was ready to rough him off after Cheltenham.
“Over two and a half miles on a flat track it will take a fair horse to beat him. When he is good, he is very good.”
His second victory in Grade One company over fences brings the curtain down on Monet’s Garden’s campaign, but a return to Aintree in the autumn is a distinct possibility.
Richards added: “He might start off back here in the Old Roan Chase in October and then go for the King George as three miles isn’t a problem to him round Kempton.
“We went there last year thinking we were going to gave Kauto Star a race and it didn’t happen, but we will try again.
“This is a very big moment for me. It’s at these places that you get remembered.”
Dobbin added: “I love this fellow. He has disappointed once or twice but there have always been reasons for it.
“He’s a very good horse. He’s got more brains than me and he’s some jumper - he has been since day one and he’s a lovely horse to be associated with.”
Paul Nicholls, the trainer of Taranis, said: “There was no point taking on Exotic Dancer yesterday, so you can see my thinking about running him here.
“Two and a half miles was just a bit sharp for him but we are well pleased and are confident of stepping him up to three miles next season – he’s going to be a cracking horse.”
There were long faces where connections of Well Chief were concerned.
The crack two-miler had failed to perform over the extra four furlongs and found little for Timmy Murphy when asked for an effort, eventually finishing a further nine lengths adrift in third.
Pipe said: “Timmy didn’t really use the extra distance as an excuse.
“He said he travelled well and jumped well, but he didn’t think he would have won at two miles today.
“The horse seemed fine afterwards so we’ll just get him home and see how he is tomorrow. It’s disappointing, but he’s back in one piece anyway.
“At two out and three out the winner was going well in front and I was worried we weren’t going to get there.”
Last year’s winner Hi Cloy was fifth this time and his jockey Davy Russell commented the ground was too quick for his mount, while Oneway’s trainer Mark Rimell said the sixth home had not run his race.
