Aintree Eye-Catchers - Five Beaten Horses To Follow
With Aintree all over for another year, Paul Ferguson has reviewed all of the action from his local track and come up with five beaten horses who he believes to be worth monitoring moving forward.
GIDLEIGH PARK (Harry Fry) – 2nd Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Thursday)
Having been pulled-up on his first start over fences, Gidleigh Park had, effectively, had just the one chase start prior to running in the opening race of the meeting, the Grade 1 Manifeso Novices’ Chase. That sole completed start came in Grade 2 company at Windsor – form which had been franked by Caldwell Potter at Cheltenham (and again, the following day, at Aintree) – and he was ridden positively throughout under Bryan Carver. Jumping well in the main, he got two out wrong but rallied gamely once challenged and split last year’s Aintree Hurdle winner Impaire et Passe and Arkle winner Jango Baie, seemingly appreciating the 2m4f trip. Given that the ground was quicker than ideal and that he arrived at Aintree with such limited chasing experience behind him, it was a fine run in second and one which promises plenty for next season. Handed a revised mark of 155, the Paddy Power Gold Cup would appeal as a possible early-season option, after which the strapping seven-year-old could easily end up developing into a contender for races such as the Ascot Chase and the Ryanair, before returning to Aintree for the Melling over this same course-and-distance.
MISTER MEGGIT (Jonjo & A J O’Neill) – 4th Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Friday)
Another who arrived in Liverpool light on experience, Mister Meggit – who was sent off favourite for the Grade 2 bumper at this fixture in 2024 – had been side-lined since winning at this track on hurdles debut on 9th November. Despite the lay-off, the lack of experience and the fact that he was trying 3m for the first, the seven-year-old was sent off at just 7-2 for the final Grade1 on day two. Ridden patiently by Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, the son of Shantou moved best throughout and eased up into fourth around the home bend. Still on the bridle, he jumped to the front at the penultimate flight, at which point it was difficult to believe that he would finish out of the placings. An error at the last checked his momentum and his stride started to shorten. Whilst it would be easy to think that he didn’t fully see out the trip, the lack of a recent run (hardly an ideal preparation for a Grade 1) was another likely contributing factor. Possibly not the easiest to train (given that he was still contesting bumpers at the age of six and has endured a troubled campaign), he clearly possesses an abundance of natural talent and should win more races next season, beginning on an appealing mark of 135. It would be no great surprise if he were to work his way through handicap company – possibly starting off in the valuable contest at Haydock on Betfair Chase day – and back into Graded-class events as the season unfolds.
CELTIC DINO (Sam Thomas) -3rd Conditional/Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Friday)
Sent off the heavily backed market leader, Celtic Dino was hampered before the first flight when two horses came down on the flat and he never really recovered, positionally. Forced to sit and suffer, the chestnut began to make eye-catching progress leaving the back straight and in fact, probably ended up getting to the front sooner than ideal. Pushed along, he jumped on two out and responding well to Dylan Johnston’s urgings, kept going in determined fashion but was unable to go with the winner inside the closing stages. Had the race gone more smoothly, the six-year-old would almost certainly have finished closer and he remains a horse to be interested in – on his favoured good ground – in the autumn. Given his liking for a sound surface, his connections could consider keeping him on the go for the Swinton at Haydock, but he has had a long season and looked in better form during the first half of the campaign, so will presumably now enjoy a long summer break. The winner of his first two starts over hurdles (had Joyeuse back in 3rd when winning an introductory hurdle at Ascot in November), he struggled on soft ground when tested in Grade 1 company on Boxing Day and is likely better than the bare form behind Tripoli Flyer in the Dovecote. Despite going up 5lbs (137), he can win a nice prize next season and given his connections, it could be that the Welsh Champion Hurdle is the chose nearly-season target.
IROKO (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero) – 4th Grand National (Saturday)
The aftermath of this year’s Grand National was quite rightly dominated by the fact that Willie Mullins saddled the first three home – and the 5th and 7th for good measure (from just 6 runners) – but Iroko ran well in fourth position, given where he found himself for much of the race. Jonjo O’Neill Jnr explained post-race that he struggled to hold an early position and, in that regard, suggested that the seven-year-old might have been better-suited to softer ground. I always felt that he was a fraction further back than ideal (seemingly his jockey felt similarly given those comments) and a peck on landing at Valentine’s (second time) certainly didn’t help. Pushed along to latch on to the back of the main group turning for home, he could never really get on terms but stayed on strongly after the last and certainly confirmed his stamina. Given his age, he will likely be trained with the race in mind once again and on slightly easier going, could be a leading contender for the 2026 renewal. The handicapper left him on a mark of 152.
MOSSY FEN ROAD (Harry Derham) – 9th Weatherbys Championship Bumper (Saturday)
Although he was beaten by the best part of 14 lengths in the end, Mossy Fen Road again travelled with purpose for most of the Grade 2 bumper. Besides the winner, he was the last horse off the bridle and although he struggled to make an impact once asked to pick up, it could be that he found the ground too lively, having won his Point-to-Point on heavy and a Wetherby bumper on soft. He did not receive the clearest of passages up the home straight either – which, in fairness, might have been down to him being unable to pick up when Paul O’Brien required him to – but he remains a bright prospect for novice hurdles next term. The five-year-old is a half-brother to Fury Road and should certainly be winning more races on softer ground in the autumn/winter.
