Cunha eyes return to Aintree for Mahons Glory

Connections of Mahons Glory will work backwards from the Topham Chase after his fine effort in the Grand Sefton at the weekend.

The nine-year-old changed addresses at the beginning of the year, moving to Dylan Cunha’s Newmarket stable after attracting no more than a 900 guinea bid during a Tattersalls online sale when offered from the yard of previous trainer Patrick Neville.

The change in scenery has seemingly revitalised him, and in the spring he very nearly claimed a hat trick of handicap chases when adding another string to his predominantly Flat-focused trainer’s bow.

He returned to action in that autumn and after two more seconds, turned his hand to the National fences, schooling over two obstacles built by the Jockey Club on their Newmarket estate and clearly benefiting from the experience when fourth of 17 starters in the Sefton.

“I was so happy with that, he jumped beautifully and did everything right,” said Cunha of Mahons Glory’s superb round of jumping at Aintree.

“I almost wished there was a 19th fence, just at the elbow, because he out-jumped everyone else but he didn’t quite out-gallop them – but he was brilliant.

“He was a difficult horse who was refusing to start but we’ve worked hard on getting him racing again, he’s turned into a pleasure to train and a lovely horse to have around.

“He’s really enjoying Newmarket, everyone said he wouldn’t when we got him but we’ve managed to make it work for him and he’s very happy here.

“The Jockey Club built two fences and we schooled him two weeks before and he was excellent. After that Lee (Edwards, jockey) was confident he’d be fine over the fences.”

Cunha is more accustomed to looking on as his horses run on the Flat, with his biggest success on the level to date being Prague’s 2024 win in the Group Two Joel Stakes, but Mahons Glory provided an equally enjoyable – if more anxiety-provoking – experience for the trainer.

He said: “I do really like jump racing and it was such a good experience, especially when your horse is jumping like that, it makes you enjoy it even more.

“It was a nerve-wracking watch until they got to the Chair, but once he was over that I knew he’d jump round.”

The Topham Chase, run over the same course at Aintree’s big festival in April, is the long-term aim now, with Mahons Glory eligible for veterans’ chases in 2026 and likely to be aimed at them in interim.

Cunha said: “In the New Year he’ll be a veteran so we’ll look at the veteran series for him and then finish the season in the Topham at the Grand National meeting.

“That would be the race for him, if the owners stay on the same page then it’s the veterans’ chases and the Topham.”