Perthshire-based Lucinda Russell has confirmed that her star chaser Ahoy Senor has come out of a recent victory at Aintree in flying form and she is already looking forward to some big targets during the next National Hunt season.
The seven-year-old was a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase on Friday where he made all and lowered the colours of leading hopes, Bravemansgame and L’Homme Presse – reversing Cheltenham Festival form with the latter.
The trainer told Luck On Sunday: “We were so excited about going to Aintree. Our horse has really improved and has learnt in his races. He’s a great big horse with plenty of power and enthusiasm and he just had to learn how to shorten at a fence. We’ve done a bit of work with him at home and he’s worked it out himself.
“Four days after Cheltenham he was absolutely buzzing and moving so well. He’s come back again this morning and looks tremendous and it’s just a shame there’s not another race for him."
Much talk on the run up to Cheltenham concerned whether he would act at the track but the Gold Cup will be held on the ‘new’ rather than the ‘old’ course and connections have maintained a belief that this would suit Ahoy Senor better.
Russell added: “If he keeps on improving I think he’s got a great chance. The track doesn’t bother me at all.
“He’s a very smart horse but he’s had to learn how to dance infront of a fence and he’s done that now. I’m not that keen to go back to Kempton - for the King George – but he has options.”
It's been some leap forward since he won his initial races for the yard at Ayr but his style of fencing is already winning him plenty of fans.
Form students may also have noted that the Wetherby race Ahoy Senor won earlier in the season also yielded another significant winner as Noble Yeats (who was beaten by just under six-lengths) landed Saturday's Grand National at odds of 50/1.
