Thornton hoping Miko can score again

Feb 16 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

MIKO DE BEAUCHENE goes in search of another big-race success and jockey Andrew Thornton thinks he can land the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock this afternoon.

With trainer Robert Alner in hospital following a serious car crash, Thornton scored an emotional success on the the eight-year-old in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow in December.

Alner continues to recover in hospital, but Miko De Beauchene has paid for his win and carries top weight of 11st12lb in today’s extended 3m4f feature of a high-class seven-race card at Haydock.

But Thornton is not overly concerned about the weight, especially on ground which is drying out all the time and is currently good to soft, good in places at the Merseyside track.

Thornton said: “It’s maybe not so good for the horse but it’s a bit better for me. Heavy ground isn’t essential to him as he is a good-moving horse and he is not slow by any means. The fact that the ground isn’t as testing might just help him with top weight.

“When you look down it is a bit of a compressed handicap, apart from a couple down the bottom. Obviously it is not ideal but somebody has to carry top weight.

“The handicapper thinks he is the best horse in the race and hopefully he might have a bit of improvement still in him – he’s only had five races over fences. I’m looking forward to it.

“He’s run well twice at Haydock behind Cloudy Lane over hurdles so the track won’t bother him and he loves going left-handed.

“Fingers crossed he’ll put up a sound performance, but whether he will be good enough to win only time will tell.”

Thornton visited Alner on Thursday night and the jockey was one simple instruction from his boss. He said: “I saw him last night after Chepstow and there is still improvement. All being well he is getting moved to Odstock next week, which is great news, as much for Robert as it is for Sally.

“He’s in good spirits and the horses are in great form, which helps. He still has plenty of input.

“I went to see him for some last-minute instructions about Miko and all he said was ‘win’, so I said I’d see what I could do.”

The Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, though, has been won by several lightly-weighted runners in recent years with Heltornic (2007) and Ossmoses (2006) carrying the minimum 10st and the likes of Forest Gunner (2005), Jurancon II (2004) and Frantic (2001) all having less than 11st on their back when they scored.

With that in mind Carl Llewellyn’s Harricone Lewis on 10st7lb could be the answer for punters to what is a typically competitive renewal of a race which has been used as a trial to the John Smith’s Grand National.

Llewellyn’s 10-year-old is not entered at Aintree, but Donald McCain – whose Cholmondeley stable is in such fine form – has a possible National entrant in Idle Talk. He is just one of 11 runners in today’s race who are also entered at Aintree on April 5.

McCain is hopeful his nine-year-old, who was fifth in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster last month after unseating for a fifth time behind Miko De Beauchene at Chepstow, can run a big race.

He said: “The main thing is that he gets round. If we get that I think he will be very competitive.

“His Doncaster run has put him spot on and he has decent claims of going very close.

“Three-miles-five-furlongs with a good gallop on good to soft, good in places ground should be ideal for him.

“A race like the Red Square is always competitive, but looking at all the runners there is nothing I would be swapping with and I am very hopeful.”

He added: “The National is still on his agenda, especially with 10st6lb, but we will get today out of the way and then decide.”

Meanwhile Ruby Walsh is hoping Kauto Star can go well the Commercial First Ascot Chase and set up a mouth-watering clash with stable-mate Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Walsh decided he would ride Kauto Star ahead of Denman in next month’s Festival showpiece and on today, he said: “They should go a real good gallop tomorrow and it will be a good race, but that’s why the sponsors put the money up. He jumped super in the King George and he has been very good the two times he has been to Haydock.

“He was good at Aintree this year so touch-wood he will jump the same again. He’s a wonderful horse and hopefully he can show his class tomorrow.

“I suppose Monet’s Garden is the main threat, we beat Racing Demon fair and square in the King George. If they hold their form I would imagine Monet’s will be the one to beat.”

HAYDOCK PREDICTIONS:

12.35pm Bayonyx

1.05pm Wichita Lineman

1.35pm Tazbar

2.10pm The Very Man

2.45pm Harrycone Lewis (NAP)

3.35pm Basic Fact

4pm Mel In Blue

TOMORROW'S NAP: Jam Packed (3.20pm Towcester).