Mickey Bowen has big plans for Off The Jury
The novice put in a terrific round of jumping and looks to have a nice future.
Mickey Bowen outlined ambitious plans for Off The Jury, who could return to Aintree in April for the Randox Grand National after producing a fine round of jumping to win the Download The BetMGM App Novices’ Handicap Chase on Merseyside.
Bounced out in front by champion jockey Sean Bowen, the seven-year-old delivered a precision round of fencing bar one mistake down the back straight, before keeping the Paul Nicholls-trained Below The Radar at bay to win by two lengths as the 5-2 favourite.
“Our conditional schooled him the other day and we were on about Queensbury Boy for the National fences and then he got off and said I think this is your National horse,” said trainer Bowen.
“That was brilliant and hopefully if he keeps progressing we will enter him in the Grand National and the Topham and pick one of the two. Haiti Couleurs won this race (in 2024) so we are in good company. He has won that off 129 and won well. He is a very talented horse.
“We couldn’t win over hurdles with him and we were scratching our heads but as soon as he saw a fence he was a completely different horse. That was his first run back after a break and he is a big burly horse so fingers crossed he keeps on improving.”
Risky Obsession had kicked off Dan Skelton’s day in fine style in the opening Bet £10 To Get £40 BetMGM Novices’ Hurdle, staying on well for a winning hurdling debut and justifying even-money favouritism in the process.
Despite making a mess of a couple of the early obstacles at the back of the quartet, Harry Skelton rode a patient race, bringing the five-year-old through to lead two out and battling on well to beat Aqua Blue by two and a quarter lengths.
“Harry asked for half a jump at the second, half a jump at the third and they weren’t really in the locker. I think he just wants to pop away and after those Harry has just held his hand,” said the winning trainer.
“He is quite a talented horse and the further we go with him the better. We really liked him after he won his bumper at Warwick but the ground at Newbury next time was not to his liking. He ran well here in the Championship bumper and he is a tidy horse.”
Royal Infantry made it a double for the Skelton stable in the BetMGM ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl ‘Chasing Excellence Novices’ Chase, making all to win by two and a half lengths from Klimt Madrik.
It was a second success over fences this season for the gelding and a step up on last season after an attempt to transition from hurdles to larger obstacles lasted just one run at Cheltenham in December.
“The only novice chase he ran in last season was at Cheltenham and it intimidated him a bit (finishing a well beaten third behind Sixmilebridge) so we went back over hurdles. He was always going to be a chaser and that was lovely,” said Dan Skelton.
Sean Bowen was another to complete a double on the day, riding All In You (6-4 favourite) for Lambourn trainer Warren Greatrex to win the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap Hurdle, beating Skelton’s French import Lyssenko by three and a half lengths.
“James (Bowen) rode him in the Scottish Champion last year and thought he was unlucky because he nearly got brought down,” said Bowen. “The race really suited him. He is a good horse and could go for all those big handicaps again this year.”
Tom Lacey can look at some major races for Montregard following his lucrative success in the BetMGM Handicap Chase.
The £80,000 contest, usually run at Wincanton as the Badger Beers Chase, attracted a strong field of 12 runners, but Lacey’s 5-1 shot was much the best in the JP McManus silks under Harry Cobden.
“I got off him once at Ascot when I wanted a dinner and Johnny Burke went and won a £100,000 chase on him, so I won’t be doing that again – that is the most expensive dinner I have ever had,” said Cobden.
“He is a funny horse but he has improved. It’s a great training performance. Tom had him spot-on for today and for the money I thought the race was not that competitive. I only did the steering.”
Lacey added: “The visor has turned him inside out and then it has been confidence.
“He has an entry in the Coral Gold Cup and in the Becher Chase and there is also the Silver Cup back at Ascot. We will have a chat about the Becher, but Ascot is undulating and the other way round so I always thought he was better around Ascot.”
Cobden was narrowly denied a brace in the concluding Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle, with his mount Limier D’Arthel outbattled by 18-1 shot Secret Vino, trained by Tom Ellis and ridden by Jack Andrews.