Jefferson eyes Aintree prizes for Brooklyn

Nov 16 2009 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

MALCOLM JEFFERSON will send Brooklyn Brownie back to Merseyside this weekend with one eye on next year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

Jefferson’s 10-year-old only just failed to get up and beat Jim Goldie’s Endless Power in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the National fences 12 months ago.

The North Yorkshire trainer is looking at the same race – one of two run over the Grand National course at Aintree this Sunday on the second day of the Northwest Masters weekend – or the Betfair Racing Multiples Handicap Chase at Haydock on the opening day on Saturday for Brooklyn Brownie’s seasonal return.

Jefferson’s charge subsequently fell disappointingly at the second fence in the Grand National itself behind shock 100-1 winner Mon Mome in April. But Jefferson has next year’s Aintree marathon as Brooklyn Brownie’s long-term aim. But first he may bid to go one better in the Grand Sefton Chase.

Jefferson said: “We will give Brooklyn Brownie an entry in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase, though there is a chance he could go for the Betfair Racing Multiples Handicap Chase at Haydock Park the previous day instead.

“He will run in one of the races – we will just keep an eye on the ground – but I am leaning towards Aintree at the moment.

“He has done grand over the summer – he has been working well recently and I am pleased with him. He has done very well for us over the years and I thought that he ran a blinder 12 months ago.

“I have looked back at the race a few times and I thought that he was going to pull himself up at one stage and then the next thing I thought that he was going to win! It was just unfortunate that he fell early on in the John Smith’s Grand National – it happens to a lot of good horses. We will certainly think about returning to Aintree in April, although it’s a long way off at the moment and we see how he gets on over the fences again before making any proper plans.“

The totesport.com Becher Chase is the other race run over the National fences at Aintree this coming weekend and in recent years Amberleigh House and Silver Birch have won the race before landed the big one as well.

TODAY’S NAP: Finlay (2.10pm Leicester).