THE Crabbie’s Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree is the target of Out Now who impressed when justifying 5/4 favouritism on his British debut at Warwick last Thursday. A first track winner in three years for his Downpatrick-born owner/rider David Maxwell, the 11-year-old Muroto gelding put in an exhibition of jumping on his way to victory in the extended three-mile hunters’ chase, being eased down on the run-in to score by seven lengths.

Maxwell purchased Out Now through David Smyly Bloodstock at Doncaster in November. “I was recommended the horse by Richard Pugh,” said the London-based property investor. “He had won an open at Rathcannon the previous month on his return to pointing.”

Since winning his maiden first time out at the same track in February 2008 and a four-year-old winners’ race at Summerhill on his only other start that season, Out Now won two chases for the Edward O’Grady yard. He lost his way following second place finishes in 2012 behind Seabass in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase and in the Ladbrokes Irish National won by Lion Na Bearnai.

While David has two pointers with Kim Smyly, his Warwick winner is trained by Philip Hobbs. “It’s great fun but, at the same time, Philip is incredibly professional. He doesn’t get too excited when his horses win or too disappointed when they lose. I also have a Kalanisi four-year-old with him who is a half-brother to the Cork National winner Vics Canvas.”

Many Stars

Maxwell added to his string this week when buying the Oscar gelding Many Stars. The bay was consigned to Doncaster’s January Sales by the Lodge Hill Stables of Dan Skelton who last year saddled the horse to win a maiden hurdle and a beginners’ chase. Many Stars is due to join Kim Smyly whose husband Giles, licensed trainer at their Worcestershire establishment, signed the chit on Tuesday.

Out Now took a fair hold on his way to victory last Thursday but David found this a lot less taxing than when leading his pony-mad daughter Sasha on her first hunt over Christmas. “She absolutely loves riding,” said Maxwell of the four-year-old, “but I won’t be doing that again – it was exhausting!” Neither Sasha nor her mother Tessa was at Warwick to see Out Now win although Tessa’s parents were there to support their son-in-law.

Incidentally, Out Now is a half-brother to the unraced Ravenstar who returned to the gallops this week having recovered from the injury he sustained when falling in the three-star eventing Nations’ Cup at Aachen in July. The 14-year-old Fourstars Allstar gelding, who won at Tyrella in April, is ridden for Team Rutledge by Armagh’s Jayne Doherty.