Aintree redemption in A Plus Tard’s sights

Bowl task for 2022 Gold Cup winner after ‘difficult season’.

Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson is cautiously optimistic A Plus Tard will show his true colours in the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl on Thursday.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge looked set to become the dominant force in the division following an imperious 15-length victory in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, but little has gone right since.

The nine-year-old returned unsatisfactory blood test results following a disappointing defence of the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, while a late setback denied him the opportunity to bounce back in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Connections ultimately decided to head straight back to Cheltenham, where after travelling well for a long way, he was badly hampered by the fall of Ahoy Senor and the brought-down Sounds Russian, which ultimately led to him being pulled up by Rachael Blackmore.

Having failed to complete a race since his Gold Cup romp 13 months ago, A Plus Tard clearly has questions to answer ahead of his first appearance at Aintree, but hopes are high in the Cheveley Park camp that he can get his career back on track.

A Plus Tard winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup
A Plus Tard winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Thompson said: “It’s been a difficult season for him, as we all know.

“He was travelling well in the Gold Cup until he got hampered. Would he have troubled the first two, who knows, but he was travelling well.

“I think we’re just hoping that he can travel like that again and show the class that he’s got. We want to see a good, positive showing and signs that he is back to himself.

“I’m not going to say he’s going to win it because it’s a very a hot race, but it’s great to be involved and we look forward to taking our chance.

“He’s won four Grade Ones for us and is a double winner at Cheltenham. He’s won a Gold Cup and a Betfair Chase in imperious fashion – he’s been a great horse for us whatever happens.”

A Plus Tard over the last at Cheltenham last season
A Plus Tard over the last at Cheltenham last season (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Lucinda Russell-trained Ahoy Senor won the Cotswold Chase over course and distance before his Gold Cup fall and he returns to a track he knows well.

Winner of the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at massive odds of 66-1 in 2021 before landing the Mildmay Novices’ Chase by five lengths last term, Russell believes Ahoy Senor is primed for another bold showing.

“He’s in great form, I’m looking forward to the good ground with him,” Russell said.

Ahoy Senor winning over hurdles at Aintree
Ahoy Senor winning over hurdles at Aintree (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“This looks a tough race, tougher even than the Gold Cup I think, but he’s in good form and we travel with hope.

“It’s been quite handy to have that extra time between the two meetings, he’s been thriving.

“He always seems to go well at this time of year, he’s quite a spring-time horse.”

Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame was the runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when last seen, finishing seven lengths behind Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs.

The third-placed horse was a further six and a half lengths behind him and Nicholls was delighted with his performance under Harry Cobden.

Bravemansgame (right) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Bravemansgame (right) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Tim Goode/PA)

“Bravemansgame ran the race of his life in finishing second in the Gold Cup. It was a hell of a race, as good a Gold Cup as you will see with an end-to-end gallop,” Nicholls told his Betfair blog.

“He was pinpoint accurate at his fences and was the only one to make a race of it with the winner Galopin Des Champs.

“Bravemansgame looks tremendous, has been working really well and there is no sign of his having a hard race at the Festival.

“I’m expecting another big run from him and would argue that if he is not at his best now, I doubt he will be if we wait for Punchestown in two weeks’ time.”

Nico de Boinville will reunite with Shishkin after the duo finished second to Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Shishkin and Nico de Boinville at Ascot
Shishkin and Nico de Boinville at Ascot (Steven Paston/PA)

Nicky Henderson’s charge was the evens favourite for the event and eventually came home two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.

“I think we were a bit deflated after Cheltenham, although he did stay on really well up the hill,” de Boinville told Sky Sports Racing.

“We’ve tried to work a few things out and he seems to be in really good order at home – he’s been working well and schooling well.

“He was just never happy from the word go (at Cheltenham). He was never really happy and never really jumping and made hard work of it.

“I don’t think you can really question his temperament given the way he seemed to battle on up the hill and everything has been right since then.

Shishkin and Henderson
Shishkin and Henderson (Steven Paston/PA)

“I’m staying nice and positive and when he’s on-song, he’ll be very hard to beat.

“All the ability is there, it’s just a case of bringing it all together.”

Gordon Elliott’s Gold cup third Conflated takes his chance while Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law, who did not meet the criteria for a planned Grand National bid, completes the field of six after a gallant fifth in the Ryanair.

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