Grade One winning chaser Ahoy Senor is set to have another clash with rival Bravemansgame at the weekend in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase, with Lucinda Russell's gelding needing some rain to fall to make sure he goes.
A superb horse over the last few years for Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore, the seven year old truly announced himself as a special horse at Aintree's Grand National meeting in 2021 when landing the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle by seven lengths at odds of 66/1.
Always bought to be a chaser, he was sent over the larger obstacles last term and having unseated his rider on chase debut at Carlisle, he then went to Newbury and bolted up by 31 lengths in the Grade Two John Francome Novices' Chase.
Second to Bravemansgame in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase at the King George meeting at Kempton, he was then sent to Wetherby looking to get back on track in the Grade Two Towton Novices' Chase and saw off Grand National winner Noble Yeats.
That run set him up perfectly for a crack at the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham festival and with he rain falling it played to the strengths of L'Homme Presse with Ahoy Senor chasing him home in second.
Last seen at Aintree looking to settle the score with Bravemansgame, he went on to land the Grade One Mildmay Novices' Chase from the front with ease, keeping his unbeaten record at the track.
🏴 Ahoy Senor is a Grade One winner over fences
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 8, 2022
A sparkling performance from @lucindavrussell's stable star who retains his unbeaten record at @AintreeRaces under Derek Fox, slamming his rivals in the Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase 🏆 #RandoxGrandNational pic.twitter.com/DNaWMIue9A
Set for a possible crack at the Gold Cup this season he will start his campaign off in the Charlie Hall and having already won at Wetherby, he could be a big player at his current price of 2/1.
(Credit ATR) “As long as the ground is safe – around good to soft – we will go to Wetherby,” said Russell’s partner and assistant, Peter Scudamore.
“He is in good form and this looks a good starting point for him. He’s come back having summered well and we’re looking forward to it.”
Paul Nicholls is also looking forward to running Bravemansgame and explains he could also run Secret Investor who has been off the track for sometime now.
The champion trainer is looking for his fifth win in the race and said: “Wetherby being a flat track will suit Bravemansgame, as he has shown at Kempton albeit the other way round. He is very good fresh, which is a big plus, and he looks in great order.
“Ahoy Senor is a high-class horse with good form from last season. We beat him once, he beat us once, so of course it is being billed as a bit of a rematch, but I would much rather take him on over three miles at Wetherby than over three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham, that is for sure.
“Secret Investor also has a good record fresh but it has been a long time since he beat Clan (Des Obeaux) in the Denman Chase. He is not getting any younger and I suspect the run will bring him on.”