AINTREE (07 Apr 2005)

Good To Soft

2:35 Betfair Bowl Chase (Class A) Grade 2 (5yo+)

[off 2:40] £89,250.00, £33,000.00, £16,500.00, £7,500.00, £3,750.00 19 fences 3m1f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Grey Abbey (IRE) J Howard Johnson 11 11-12 G Lee 7/2 166 126 174

2 12 First Gold (FR) F Doumen 12 11-2 b A P McCoy 3/1F 106 152

3 17 Crystal D´Ainay (FR) A King 6 11-2 R Thornton 7/1 91 135

4 2½ Thisthatandtother (IRE) P F Nicholls 9 11-12 R Walsh 5/1 159 99 143

5 26 Jim (FR) J T R Dreaper 8 11-8 R M Power 16/1 72 113

PU Tiutchev M C Pipe 12 11-12 tv1 R Johnson 25/1 162 — —

PU Our Vic (IRE) M C Pipe 7 11-7 T J Murphy 13/2 154 — —

PU Sir Rembrandt (IRE) R H Alner 9 11-8 A Thornton 13/2 156 — —

8 ran TIME 6m 38.60s (slow by 31.60s) TOTAL SP 112%

1st OWNER: The Roper Family and Norman Furness BRED: Francis Small TRAINER: J Howard Johnson

2nd OWNER: John P McManus

3rd OWNER: Tony Fisher & Mrs Jeni Fisher

TOTE TRIFECTA Pool £2,227.68, 15.40 winning units WIN £3.80 PL £1.90, £1.70, £2.60; Ex £10.00; CSF £14.57Pool £2,227.68, 15.40 winning units

ANALYSIS: Perhaps not the strongest renewal.

A fine performance by GREY ABBEY, who has improved markedly as he has got older and faced no easy task on paper as he was giving weight to all but two of his rivals. A fine jumper, who stays and goes well on soft, conditions were ideal for him here particularly as his trainer has always maintained that he is best on a flat track. Although he was taken on for the lead, he jumped magnificently as usual, made most of the running at a sound pace and galloped his rivals into the ground, storming clear from the second last to win unchallenged.

He had his problems in the run-up to the Festival, where the faster ground wasn't in his favour, but he ran creditably to finish fifth in the Gold Cup and reportedly came backin even better form. He proved that this time with a career-best, justifying the decision to bypass the National as it was thought the fences would catch him out. He's still in the Scottish National, but after his exertions here, could be a doubtful starter at Ayr even if the ground were to come in his favour, but he showed here that in the current order of chasers, he is not far behind the best when there is give in the ground.

First Gold, who has won this race twice in the past, was receiving 10lb from the winner and ran a creditable race even though he was slightly on and off the bridle. Matching it with the winner in the first two throughout, he was still there with a chance turning for home, but couldn't go on with the winner after that. Now a 12-year-old, he hasn't won for nearly two years, and though a fine servant, the impression is that he is now past his best.

Crystal d'Ainay faced a stiff task as this was only his third run over fences, and he had never run over them in this country. His jumping didn't really pass the test as he made mistakes early, and was well adrift turning in but he ran on through beaten horses to take third. It's hard to know whether he has a future over fences.

Thisthatandtother had never run over this trip before, and didn't seem to stay. Although he travelled well enough for the first 2m and a bit, his run petered out in the straight and he was passed for third after the last.

Jim was another uncertain stayer, and though he travelled well, he hit the cross fence hard and faded. He had plenty to find with most of these, but left the impression he's better at shorter.

Old Vic made a mistake or two early, and then took a firm grip, but he disappointed again.