Gerri Colombe (4-6 favourite) returned to winning ways in the Grade One Air Charter Services Mildmay Novices’ Chase, the opener on Ladies Day at the 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
And connections are now dreaming of a crack at next season's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he was cut to 8-1 from 12-1 with Paddy Power after his victory.
Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old had been unbeaten in three chase starts, including the Grade One Scilly Novices' Chase at Sandown, and headed into the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival as a warm favourite. But he was narrowly denied by The Real Whacker when beaten a short head in the three-mile Grade One contest at Prestbury Park. But again sent off the market leader he was back in the winner's enclosure. He gave two-time Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell, who is set to go back into retirement after the meeting, a welcome Aintree Grade One success. Russell, who will partner Elliott's Galvin on his final ride in the Aintree showpiece on Saturday, had Gerri Colombe just sat off the pace set first by outsider Sholokjack – until he fell – and then Dan Skelton's Galia Des Liteaux. As he dropped away on the turn for home Gerri Colombe began to get closer and took over in the lead over the second last fence. He powered clear of his rivals and after a big, bold jump at the last scored by seven-and-a-half-lengths from the staying-on Complete Unknown (8-1) with Bronn in third.
