Richards ponders Monet's target

Nicky Richards has yet to decide which race Monet’s Garden will run in at Aintree next week.

The gallant grey has been saved for Liverpool after his success in the Melling Chase over two and a half miles last year.

But with Paul Nicholls declaring Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded as a likely runner in that event, Richards has also given his stable star an entry in the totesport Bowl over three miles.

“I wish Mr Nicholls and Mr (Clive) Smith would make up their minds which races they are aiming for!” said Richards.

“They are very lucky, they have two exceptional horses and they will obviously pick the best one for each, but I’ve got a very good one as well.

“I’ll just have a look and see who is running where before I decide on one for Monet’s.

“The ground should be fine, it’s the best in the country at Aintree.

“Some people are saying that Kauto had a very hard race in the Gold Cup, but Paul wouldn’t even consider running him if he didn’t think he was over it.

“He’s not a bad horse because he had one bad day. They all tried to write him off when we beat him at Aintree in November, but he would be the only horse in the country capable of giving Monet’s a stone and getting within a length over two and a half miles.

“In his own right Monet’s is a top-class horse and if Kauto wasn’t around he wouldn’t have been far off being the top lad.”

Monet’s Garden and Kauto Star are among a field of 11 for the Grade Two event with Exotic Dancer and Aces Four.

Fair Along, Gungadu, Knowhere, Mister McGoldrick, Mister Top Notch, Our Vic and Turko complete the list of possibles.