Klimt Madrik out to open chasing account at Aintree

Toby Lawes is confident his “very talented dinosaur” Klimt Madrik can help put his name in lights as he continues his chasing education at Aintree on Friday.

Nicky Henderson’s former assistant is well aware what it takes to nurture a top chasing prospect and having acquitted himself well over hurdles last season, including when second to No Drama This End in the Challow Hurdle, hopes are high he can build on an encouraging fences bow at Worcester.

“Everyone needs these top-class horses to run with the baton for you and I think he will,” said Lawes.

“He’s a very talented dinosaur and I think all he will need is experience, like he did with his hurdling. Hopefully he will improve quite quickly with experience and at this time of year, when you get the opportunity to bank a bit more experience I think you have to take it.

“When schooling him since his run at Worcester he looks to have taken a step forward and I’m very happy with him heading into Aintree.”

At Worcester it was only Dan Skelton’s handy Talk To The Man that proved too sharp for Klimt Madrik, who will now take a long-awaited move up to three miles when contesting the BetMGM ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase on Merseyside.

Lawes added: “We were always going to step up to three miles at some point and it is something we have to try.

“The tricky thing at this time of year is finding ground we’re happy to run on and I was pretty happy if it was going to be two-and-a-half again or three. With the three-mile option being there I thought it might be quite a nice time to try it

“He almost switched off too well last time at Worcester and I think in a little three-runner field he will give himself every chance of getting on well over that trip. The way he goes about things suggests he should be fine.

“He’s an enormous, big horse and he does have a bit of an edge to him where he can be a bit excited, so when he jumped off and completely switched off it caught Kevin (Brogan) by surprise and he took a bit of waking up.

“He got engaged and started motoring in the home straight and I think he gave the winner good enough a race where you can take plenty of positives from that.”

Klimt Madrik’s two rivals are the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained Intosomethinggood and Royal Infantry, who represents Dan and Harry Skelton.

The latter may prove the toughest nut to crack, having won handsomely in a beginners’ chase at Hexham last month.

“Royal Infantry runs in this novice chase and it’s a competitive little affair,” the champion trainer told Ladbrokes.

“He has the benefit of a run over fences and he won that day, so that looks quite positive for him. He is in good form and the track and trip will be fine.”

Skelton also holds leading claims in the BetMGM Handicap Chase, where bargain buy Here Comes Georgie has the chance to quickly add to his tally having landed a valuable pot at Cheltenham on his stable debut.

“I think this is a very competitive race, although there is lots of pace, which will really suit his hold-up style,” Skelton added.

“Let’s see how he goes and I think this is harder than Cheltenham, if I’m honest, and we’ll see how much he has in hand.

“I think he will run well, but I’d stop short of saying he will be pounds better than his current mark. He should go well.”