White Hart Lady looks another smart mare for Fry

I was working at Aintree on Sunday for Racing TV and Brian Ellison maintained his red hot spell with Forest Bihan capturing the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase. The only horse in the line up who had the benefit of a run beforehand having reappeared at Kelso earlier this month, he cruised into contention under Brian Hughes and had too much pace for Grade 1 winners Kalashnikov and Frodon. The fact the three fences in the home straight were omitted due to the low sun almost certainly played to his strengths but he still saw out the trip well (0 from 3 over 2 miles four furlongs beforehand). I thought Kalashnikov fared encouragingly in second having made blundered early on (third fence). Indeed, I thought Amy Murphy's stable star jumped very well thereafter and it will be interesting to see where he heads next. Despite the fact the Ryanair Chase in March has been earmarked as his principal target, I wouldn't be surprised if he was given an entry in the Shloer Chase over two miles at Cheltenham next month. 

The Aintree card rounded off with a mares' bumper and it was won in decisive fashion by White Hart Lady (4/1). Harry Fry spoke favourably about the daughter of Doyen on page 68 of One Jump Ahead and his comments proved accurate as she handed out a four lengths victory under Sean Bowen. Prominent throughout, she galloped her rivals into submission and won with any amount in hand. The Listed mares' bumper at Cheltenham's November meeting could be on her agenda and she won't be out of place at Prestbury Park. 

While the Top 40 Prospects continue to splutter into action, the Talking Trainers section of OJA has been in superb form with other winners on Sunday including Dolphin Square (2/1), Wandrin Star (11/1) and Sir Psycho (11/8).