Aintree, Day Two preview: It's hard to believe but before last year's John Smith's Melling Chase there were plenty voicing doubts about Moscow Flyer's ability to cope with the two-and-a-half-mile trip. It's a sign of the status this remarkable horse now holds that doubt is almost a dirty word when it comes to Jessica Harrington's superstar.
He faces just five opponents this afternoon and on general form Moscow Flyer should have little more than an exercise canter to win. Of course the 11-year-old champion can sometimes make things hard for himself, but the memory of that Cheltenham success over three weeks ago is hard to ignore.
In their careers, the likes of Le Roi Miguel and Therealbandit haven't come within a donkey's screech of the performance that Moscow Flyer put in to beat Well Chief and even the prospect of soft conditions doesn't look like evening things up.
"The ground looks like it could be a problem for Colca Canyon in the Topham, but Moscow Flyer should be okay. He is in good form and he has had an extra week between Cheltenham and Liverpool this year which is a help," said Harrington yesterday.
Colca Canyon is topweight for the Topham over the National fences and will be one of eight Irish hopes if he takes his chance.
Up against them will be Longshanks who failed to make the National field and runs here instead of taking a chance as third reserve for tomorrow's feature.
A pointer to the National could come from another source, however, with Haut de Gamme who managed to beat Strong Resolve at Kelso on his last start. Keith Mercer's 3lb claim can only help his chance.
Harrington's runner in the Grade Two Mildmay Chase is Well Presented, but this one has ground to make up on Powers Gold Cup form with Like-A-Butterfly whose appearance today is a tip in itself.
The veteran mare bounced back to something like her best when winning at Fairyhouse and that was a step up on her SunAlliance fifth at Cheltenham.
Christy Roche brings her here for the ground, judging that she is unlikely to get such conditions at Punchestown at the end of the month.
Against that is the suspicion that this tight track may not be ideal, but Like-A-Butterfly's class can see her through.
The fairer sex have only one representative in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle, but Asian Maze will be a formidable opponent for the 16 others judged by a spread-eagling performance at Fairyhouse.
Paul Carberry has struck up quite a partnership with the Tom Mullins-trained mare whose rate of improvement will make her a danger to those coming here after Cheltenham.
Zeta's River missed out on the festival but that can work in his favour in the handicap chase and the Martin Pipe team could double up with the prolific, if controversial, Celtic Son who is back after a Jockey Club ban in the last.
SELECTIONS
2.00 LIKE-A-BUTTERFLY
2.35 DUSKY WARBLER
3.10 MOSCOW FLYER
3.45 HAUT DE GAMME
4.20 ASIAN MAZE
4.55 ZETA'S RIVER (nap)
5.30 CELTIC SON
Double:
ZETA'S RIVER and CELTIC SON
