Jack’s back aiming for third time lucky

Nov 23 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

PAK JACK will bid to make it third-time lucky over the John Smith’s Grand National fences in Sunday’s totesport.com Becher Chase on Sunday and put down a marker for big race itself.

Richard Phillips’ seven-year-old was third to Liberthine in the John Smith’s Topham Chase in 2006 and went one better behind Scots Grey in last season’s John Smith’s Foxhunters’ Chase.

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Ogden, Pak Jack was bought over the summer by the Bellflower Racing Syndicate with a view to running in the 4m4f Aintree marathon next April.

And victory in the Sunday’s feature race run over 3m3f of the National course, would help seal his place.

Richards is hoping for a big run. He said: “I’m pleased with him. We bought him with the intention to run him over the Aintree fences, as they seem to bring out the best in him. He’s a lovely horse, and we hope he’ll improve with a step up in trip, so we will find out a bit more on Sunday.

“The Grand National is the target, but because he’s rated 130 over fences we need his mark to go up a bit, so we are hoping for a good run in the Becher Chase. We ideally want goodish ground on Sunday, but he has some form over hurdles on softish ground in France.

“Richard Johnson, who will ride on Sunday, schooled Pak Jack (on Thursday morning) and he jumped well.”

Pak Jack is a best-priced 20-1 with VCbet, but there was a move yesterday for Paul Nicholls’ Mr Pointment.

The champion trainer is seeking his third win in the race following wins for Silver Birch (2004) and Eurotrek (2006).

The Ditcheat handler also has Le Duc and Royal Auclair entered, but Mr Pointment is now vying for favouritism with Leading Man and Bewleys Berry and is a best-priced 8-1 with most firms.

Bewley’s Berry will be partnered by Denis O’Regan and the Irish rider is hoping for a big run from last season’s Becher Chase runner-up. Howard Johnson’s nine-year-old fell in the big race itself in April and he had a schooling session over some National-type fences.

O’Regan said: “He jumped super over them so there don’t look like being any ill effects from his fall in the National.

“With the way he was going in the National last year, you’d have to say you’d be looking forward to him in the National again this year. He jumped them well, he’s in good form and hopefully he’ll run a good race.”

TODAY’S NAP: The King Of Angels (3.10pm Ascot).