Summerville Boy is set to make his comeback from injury in time to defend his title in the Betway Hurdle at Aintree.
Trainer Tom George is looking forward to getting the nine-year-old back on track on Saturday, for the first time since finishing fifth to McFabulous in the Relkeel Hurdle in January.
That Grade Two contest was switched from its usual home at Cheltenham to Kempton, and George believes Summerville Boy did not handle the Sunbury course.
“We’ve not seen him for a long time. He’s going back to Aintree for the race he won there last year,” said George.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Summerville Boy gets the win at #Aintree over rivals, Ch'tibello & Thomas Darby 🏇
“He won that last season, and then the Relkeel Hurdle was abandoned and they ran it at Kempton – the track didn’t suit him, he picked up an injury and he hasn’t run since then.
“He’s fine now, and we’re looking forward to getting him back on track. Two and a half miles is his optimum, and he’s in good form and working well, so we’re going back to Aintree.”
Summerville Boy is one of 10 initial entries, which also include the hugely promising but very lightly-raced Dusart from Nicky Henderson’s powerful yard, Olly Murphy’s Grade Two winner Brewin’upastorm and 2020 Stayers’ Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar, for Rebecca Curtis.
The Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase will provide a spectacle, over the Grand National fences, on Saturday’s card – and there were 22 confirmations on Monday.
Henderson’s Caribean Boy tops the weights – with Donald McCain’s new recruit Mister Whitaker and Jonjo O’Neill’s Midlands Grand National winner Time To Get Up also catching the eye.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2.49307321-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngGeegeez News2021-11-01 13:53:062021-11-01 13:53:06Summerville Boy to return for title defence at Aintree
Kim Bailey believes Vinndication is capable of filling a glaring omission on his CV by giving him a first victory in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday week.
The Andoversford handler, speaking in front of the media at Tuesday’s Ladbrokes Winter Carnival gallops morning at the track, hinted the Grade Three prize is likely to be the next target for the eight-year-old – who found only Cyrname too strong on his return in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby.
Having won a Grand National, Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, Bailey has only placed in the Grade Three heat – with Mr Frisk and Docklands Express finishing third in 1989 and 1991 respectively.
Newtide (right) and Vinndication schooled at Newbury (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Bailey said: “I won’t make a decision until next week (over Vinndication’s participation). I think if all things go to plan next week, you are more likely to see him here. He is an out-and-out stayer, so three and a quarter miles is no problem.
“I think I’ve only had two or three runners in it. I had Mr Frisk placed in it and another horse called Man O’Magic finish sixth in it. Docklands Express was also third in it.
“I’ve yet to win it. It’s a lovely race to win and it would be great on my CV.”
Although Vinndication was not foot perfect in a schooling session alongside Grade Two-winning stablemate Newtide at Newbury, Bailey believes it will have taken some of the freshness out of him and sharpened him up.
He added: “I wanted to school him today as when I brought him here two years ago to school, he wasn’t very good.
“He was very fresh today, and I was desperate to get a school in today to see how he reacted.
“By the last fence he got himself sorted out – he took the first two miles outside the wings.
“We will school him between now and then at home and make a decision after the weekend on where we go.”
Two For Gold (right) is rated no better than a 50/50 chance to line up in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA Images)
Bailey could also be represented in the race by Two For Gold, who has the option of Newcastle’s Listed Betfair Rehearsal Chase on the same day.
He said: “I would think it is 50/50 he runs. When we make the entry for the Rehearsal Chase, we will see the two races and see where we are.
“He definitely fits the profile, but it would be nicer if he was a year older.
“It’s a big ask for him to go from two and a half miles at Wetherby to three and a quarter miles around here, because he hasn’t been that trip before.”
Tom George believes Grade One-winning hurdler Black Op will have no issues racing beyond three miles for the first time in the handicap feature.
George said: “He had a nice run up at Carlisle in an intermediate chase there. He wasn’t ready that day – that would have put him spot on hopefully.
“He won’t have any problems with the trip. He loves a big, flat track. He has got a good weight, and this has been the plan for quite a while with him.
“In the Kauto Star Chase at Kempton (last December), we should have maybe in hindsight made a bit more use of him as he was only beaten a short distance in the end. I can’t see stamina being a problem.
“He hasn’t done that much chasing for an older horse, but he seems to be going the right way.”
Three lovely prospects for @benpauling1 work at the track this morning:
🏇 Kildisart (No.18) – 10/1 for the @Ladbrokes Trophy
Ben Pauling is confident he has Kildisart, another in action at the gallops event, exactly where he wants him on his return to fences – having finished third in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on his reappearance.
“We went to Wetherby as a bit of a prep race – and he ran a mighty race, to be honest, against some good hurdlers,” said Pauling.
“He will come on for that run, and he came out of the race very well. It was nice to see him just stride on today.
“He was very relaxed – and Holly (Osborne), who rides him every day, said when he got upsides, he just locked on. That was job done for him.
“He does seem to be getting better with age. I think he is in as good a place as he can be to come here in 10 days and give it his all.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2.56663317-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/geegeez_banner_new_300x100.pngGeegeez News2020-11-17 16:24:452020-11-17 16:24:45Bailey looking to Vinndication for Ladbrokes Trophy triumph
geegeez.co.uk uses cookies to improve your experience. We assume that's OK, but you may opt-out from the settings. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.