Millers Bank powers to famous Manifesto success

Moment to remember for Alex Hales and Kielan Woods.

Trainer Alex Hales and jockey Kielan Woods celebrated the biggest success of their careers as Millers Bank displayed a fine turn of foot to run out a clear-cut winner of the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

Having finished a close third in the Aintree Hurdle 12 months ago, connections held high hopes he could reach the top over fences this season – but to date not much had gone right.

While he won on his chasing debut he then unseated the next twice at Newbury and Cheltenham, after which he underwent wind surgery.

He showed a return to something like his best last time out behind Pic D’orhy at Kempton and faced that rival again but on 5lb worse terms.

A jolting blunder down the back straight put paid to the chance of the Paul Nicholls runner and by then the favourite Erne River had already fallen.

Rachael Blackmore was dictating on Gin On Lime but having run keenly in the early stages, by the second-last she was running on empty which meant it was between the two Colin Tizzard runners, The Widow Maker and War Lord, and Millers Bank.

Having briefly been caught flat footed, Millers Bank (7-1) surged through to the lead and powered away from War Lord to win by 10 lengths.

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.

Latest