BARRY GERAGHTY is set to ride Poquelin in Saturday’s totescoop6 Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
The Grand National-winning rider was on board Nicky Richards’ popular veteran Monet’s Garden when he won the Grade Two contest for a second time 12 months ago. And he was expected to resume the partnership when the grey bids for a hat-trick on Merseyside this weekend.
But Poquelin’s owner Andy Stewart revealed that Geraghty would be on board the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding.
The seven-year-old finished second to Albertas Run at Cheltenham before unseating behind the same rival in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree in April.
Albertas Run is top weight on 11st12lb for Saturday’s 2m4f contest and Poquelin bids to turn the tables on his rival under Geragthy.
Owner Stewart said: “He’s going to run this weekend and Barry Geraghty has been booked to take the ride.
“We get a few pounds from Albertas Run this time but obviously he was impressive both at Liverpool and Cheltenham when he beat us in the Ryanair Chase.
“I wouldn’t write off Monet’s Garden either. I think when Poquelin was at Aintree last it was the end of a long season.
“Albertas Run obviously did Cheltenham and Aintree as well but before that he had a bit of a break where as Poquelin had a much harder season. He won a handicap at Cheltenham, finished second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and then won at Cheltenham again, so it was a hard campaign.
“Paul is very happy with him now and the horse is ready to go. Unfortunately I won’t be at Aintree as I’m just on my way to Barbados, but I’ll be watching it on the television.”
Tartak was sent off joint-favourite for the Old Roan 12 months ago, but finished last of eight behind Monet’s Garden. The seven-year-old was fourth to Albertas Run back at Aintree in April but trainer Tom George is hoping a different training approach can help him this year.
George said: “The plan is to run Tartak, as two and a half miles around Aintree seems to suit him.
“He has an outstanding chance at the weights but if he comes out as ring-rusty as he was when last of eight in the race last year, he won’t win anything.
“He was very stuffy to begin with last season, so we took that into account this year and have tried to get him so that he’s firing earlier.
“We have done plenty with him so, while there are no guarantees with horses, hopefully he will go there sharper. My horses do tend to improve for a run though. He has summered well, we have had him in since the beginning of July so he’s had plenty of time. We have given him about six schooling sessions on the grass and the schooling has been excellent.”
Of the 12 entries Silmi is unlikely to line up on Saturday with trainer Sophie Leech preferring to wait for the £100,000 United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase over three miles at Ascot a week later.
The six-year-old won a valuable handicap chase at Market Rasen last month but will be a long way out of the handicap at Aintree.
He has only been allotted 9st 1lb but would have to carry the minimum weight of 10st 4lb.
Leech said: “I don’t think he’s going to run and will go to Ascot instead the following weekend.
“He’d have been way out of the handicap at Aintree. We could think of trying to get some place money if there aren’t many runners, but he could be in the handicap proper at Ascot and actually have a chance. He’s going to have this one more run probably and then have a break. He’s been on the go a while but he’s in quite good form, so we thought we’d have one more go.”
TODAY’S NAP: Slugger O’Toole (9.10pm Kempton)
