Wylie: Tidal Bay back in business

Connections of Tidal Bay were delighted with the performance of the 2008 Arkle Trophy at Aintree yesterday.

The eight-year-old was clear second best in the Old Roan Chase, beaten two and a half lengths by the Nicky Richards-trained Monet’s Garden.

It proved conclusively that Tidal Bay’s wind operation had been a success - though there was a scare in the unsaddling enclosure afterwards when the horse began to spasm.

“He’s fine. He just got a little bit dehydrated so he had some water thrown over him,” explained owner Graham Wylie.

“He had his heart checked out and his heart rate was back to normal after 20 minutes.

“The wind operation seems to have worked because he kept up with the pace all the way round. When Monet’s Garden gets into that kind of rhythm there’s nothing can stop him.

“He did his best and we were delighted with that.

“We’re still not sure what his trip is, whether it’s two and a half miles or three miles.

“He’ll have a break for two or three weeks and we’ll kick on from there.”