DAVID PIPE will only decide at today’s declaration stage if Tamarinbleu will make his seasonal return in tomorrow’s totetentofollow Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
Pipe’s nine-year-old was an impressive winner of the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January 2008, but hasn’t scored again since.
He has run some good races in defeat over the past 18 months including when third in the Grade One Melling Chase over tomorrow’s course and distance and when runner-up to Snoopy Loopy in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November.
Pipe is delighted with his charge’s work at home but will leave any decision over his participation in tomorrow’s Grade Two feature contest at Aintree until the last minute.
The Nicholashayne handler said: “We haven’t decided what we’re going to do at the present moment, so we’ll see what the ground is like and go from there. He’s in good form and schooled yesterday morning and jumped well, so we’ll see what happens.
“I’m sure the ground would be fine for him what ever it is but he’s probably better on better ground.
“If he doesn’t run on Saturday, he could go to Wetherby for the Charlie Hall or run at Ascot on the same day, or he could go to Haydock for the Betfair Chase.
“He’s got four or five options and we’ll just try to pick the right one.”
One horse who is certain to line up is Tidal Bay, who has won three times at Aintree.
Connections are hoping for a big run from the 2008 Arkle winner, who wasn’t at his best for much of last season.
Howard Johnson’s eight-year-old clearly likes the Liverpool track and jockey Denis O’Regan is hoping the return to Merseyside can bring him back to his best.
He said: “I had a sit on him at home and he feels okay.
“I’m sitting on the fence a little bit because I don’t know what to make of him at the moment. He loves Aintree and I’m hoping he can put in a big show.”
While the John Smith’s Grand National is the best part of six months ago, the Aintree showpiece is very much in the thinking of Character Building’s trainer John Quinn.
The nine-year-old is set to make his seasonal return in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury next month, with the Grand National a possible long-term aim.
Character Building was third in Newbury’s Grade Three handicap two years ago and looks like lining up at the Berkshire track on November 28. Quinn said: “He’s summered well and is on track for the season ahead.
“He’s strengthened up a bit and looks very well. He’ll be entered in the Hennessy and we’ll probably go straight there.
“He goes well fresh so that won’t be a problem.”
Character Building won the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham, and was among the favourites for the Grand National in April, before he had to miss the big race through a late setback.
The talented grey has Aintree on his radar again, but Quinn will take things step by step before the National is fully considered.
He added: “We’ll look towards the National again but everything won’t be geared around Liverpool because anything can happen between now and then.
“We’re going to aim him at all the big staying races this season.”
Meanwhile Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten colt St Nicholas Abbey is the 2-1 favourite for tomorrow’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster after he was declared among the 12 entries.
TODAY’S NAP: Deauville Flyer (4.05pm Doncaster).
