Aintree Saturday

DESPITE changes to the fences over the years, Aintree’s Grand National course still produces specialists, and the latest to become a multiple winner of the Grade 3 Becher Chase after dual successes for Into The Red (1994, 1996) and Hello Bud (2010, 2012) is Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford/James Best) who made it back-to-back wins last Saturday in beating Kimberlite Candy (Tom Lacey/Richie McLernon), Alpha Des Obeaux (Gordon Elliott/Richard Johnson) and Definitly Red (Brian Ellison/Henry Brooke).

The winner was an 8/1 chance, and won by two and a half lengths and eight lengths, having done well not to be brought down by the flailing hind legs of first-fence faller Like The Sound.

After winning this contest 12 months ago, Walk In The Mill went on to finish a highly creditable fourth in the National itself behind Tiger Roll, but after a pipe-opener at Wincanton, he arrived for his double bid only 4lb higher than last year, and more importantly, down to a mark which would make it difficult for him to make the cut.

It’s bizarre to think that a Becher winner and Grand National-placed horse at the top of his game could be in danger of being balloted out, but that’s where we are with the big race, and this smashing Aintree horse was even dropped in the weights for his big effort in April.

Horses like him who tick all the boxes for National qualification really should get automatic entry, either by dint of being placed in the big race, or winning the Becher.

A new mark of 147 will surely be enough to make that issue moot, but it remains a thorny issue which will prick others in the future. The winner certainly merits his plaudits, but it must be said that this looked a pretty deep contest, and there were plenty of clues to take forward for the future. Of those in behind, there were a number of very encouraging performances, with the placed horses all staying on stoutly having been tapped for toe at varying points.

Kimberlite Candy went up 3lb to 140 for finishing second, and appeals as the type to improve over further, for all a slog in last season’s Eider at Newcastle seemed to find him out. He’s only a seven-year-old, and took well to these fences at the first try, and while he’s not certain to make the cut for the National off his current mark, he has time on his side.

One For Arthur has had little racing since winning the big one in 2017, and put up his most encouraging effort since, typically staying on from well off the pace, and still going on at the finish. He’s no back number.

Le Breuil, winner of the latest National Hunt Chase, jumped impeccably on the whole on his first start over the spruce fences, and his tiring from the penultimate fence is down to a lack of full fitness, with trainer Ben Pauling admitting his horses have not been getting the potassium they need. The fact he could survive the carnage he experienced at Cheltenham in March shows that a race like the National will not faze him, and he was arguably the biggest eyecatcher in the race.

River is relentless

In a rather obvious way, the Grade 2 Many Clouds told us little, with Might Bite (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) blundering and unseating Nico de Boinville as early as the fourth, by which time 5/6 favourite Native River (Colin Tizzard/Richard Johnson) had already taken control of the gallop. Only a mishap of his own could have denied him victory, given the big lead he had built up over the remaining pair in the first half of the race.

The 2018 Gold Cup winner has worn cheekpieces since his second to Minella Rocco in the National Hunt Chase as a novice, and he has hinted on occasion that more severe headgear would benefit him.

He was a little careful at the first two fences equipped with blinkers for the first time, but he quickly warmed to his task, and galloped on relentlessly with only the loose Might Bite for company thereafter. His presence in the Welsh National l would be a rare treat, and brings back memories of the way Carvills Hill took apart a strong field at Chepstow 28 years ago.