6th-Apr-2019

I am backing Ornua in the Maghull Chase.  He is often an under-rated horse, he may be regarded as just a summer jumper by some and, while he has been backed this morning, I think that he has still been under-rated again by the market today.

Henry de Bromhead’s horse is a longer price than Lalor, yet he had Lalor behind him in third when he finished second behind Dynamite Dollars in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown in December.  Also, he beat Cadmium over two miles at Roscommon last October, and he finished a close second to him over two and a quarter miles at Punchestown three weeks later, giving him 3lb.  That form looks even better now than it did then.  Cadmium was an impressive winner of the Topham Chase yesterday off a mark of 152.

Ornua fell early on in the Arkle at Cheltenham, which was not like him.  He is usually a safe and efficient jumper.  Prominent racers usually do well on Aintree’s Mildmay chase track, which is a positive for Ornua.  He will have Davy Russell for company too for the first time.  There are lots of positives.

ORNUA WON (ADV 9/2, SP 3/1)