ALBERTAS Run could make his seasonal reappearance in Aintree’s Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase a week on Saturday.
Connections are mulling when the talented 10-year-old should return to the track with the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 22 and the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby a week later the two most likely options.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained chaser finished fourth under top weight behind Monet’s Garden in Aintree’s 2m4f Grade Two contest 12 months ago.
Triple winner Monet’s Garden is set to parade in front of the crowd before the race, but Albertas Run is another Aintree favourite.
He has won the 2010 John Smith’s Melling Chase and also scored over hurdles at the Grand National meeting four years ago. While he also been placed on four occasions, including when second to Master Minded in the Melling Chase on his final appearance last season.
Mick Meagher, racing manager to Albertas Run’s owner Hemmings, said: “Albertas Run is a possible runner in the Old Roan Chase.
“We are also looking at the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby the week after and we will make a final decision nearer the time, but Aintree is a definite possibility.
“It was wonderful to win a second Ryanair Chase with him last season and we thought that he ran a great race behind Master Minded in the John Smith’s Melling Chase.
“He is a better horse on decent ground and I don’t see why we won’t aim him for a third Ryanair Chase this season, although he has the option of stepping back up in trip as well.
“One or two things didn’t happen for him in the King George VI Chase last year but he has finished second in the race before and won the RSA Chase, so I don’t think there can be an argument that he doesn’t stay three miles.”
Meanwhile James Fanshawe’s two Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes contenders Deacon Blues and Society Rock have been working well ahead of Saturday’s big day at Ascot.
Fanshawe, though, has some concerns about the going for Deacon Blues – who has won his last four starts including the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot and three Group Three contests.
Society Rock, who was also a winner at the Royal meeting when landing the Golden Jubilee on the same day in June as the Wokingham, doesn’t mind the likely faster conditions expected on Saturday.
Fanshawe said: “They have both had a couple of canters this morning and they seem in good form. I was really pleased to see Deacon Blues win over five furlongs at Newbury, he just doesn’t want the ground too quick.
“If the ground is like it was at the last meeting at Ascot, it will be okay, he just does like some juice.
“Society Rock has won twice from three starts at Ascot, and the only time he has been beaten there was by Starspangledbanner in the Golden Jubilee. He has won on soft ground but wouldn’t mind it quicker.”
TODAY’S NAP: Silent Mistress (7.20pm Kempton).
