Ga Law

Ga Law ran a big race to finish third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday on his first run back after a long break. Settled on the inside by Jonathan Burke, last of the seven remaining runners after Millers Bank’s departure at the first, he was keen early on, which wasn’t surprising given that he had been off the track for so long. He moved towards the outside as they raced down the back straight final time, but a significant mistake at the final fence in the back straight halted his forward momentum. A detached last as they jumped the cross fence, he came under a ride as they rounded the home turn, but he kept on well for pressure. He jumped into fourth place over the second last fence, and he stayed on well from there, getting past Beakstown on the run-in and getting to within a length and a half of Riders Onthe Storm and Hitman by the time they got to the winning line.

It was a big run by Ben Pauling’s horse after an absence of 603 days. There was a lot to like about the manner in which he stayed on all the way to the line, after making that mistake at the fifth last fence, just when he was starting to make progress. He was a talented novice chaser in 2020/21, he won a Grade 2 contest at Wincanton and he finished third behind Allmankind and Hitman in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown’s Tingle Creek meeting. This was his first run since he finished second behind Tamaroc Du Mathan, and in front of subsequent December Gold Cup and Cheltenham Plate winner Coole Cody, in the Pendil Chase at Kempton in February 2021. He has obviously had his issues, but he is only six and he has raced just six times over fences, and he obviously retains lots of ability. He is interestingly-handicapped on a mark of 142, and he races like he could improve for stepping up in trip.
Aintree, 23^rd October 2022