Quick Wave (18-1) won the Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon and enhanced her Randox Grand National credentials.
The Venetia Williams-trained 10-year-old mare was one of only four horses of the 15 to line-up at Haydock who also held an entry in this year's Aintree marathon. And despite being pulled up under Charlie Deustch in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow over Christmas she bounced back with a fine battling three-quarters-of-a-length victory over fellow mare, the gallant Snow Leopardess (16-1). Another Grand National entrant and Williams' stable-mate Cloudy Glen (28-1) was a further nine-and-a-half lengths further back in third, having had a battle up front with Snow Leopardess for much of the 3m4f contest.
This time under Harry Bannister – son of Haydock Park chairman Nick Bannister – Quick Wave put down a marker for the Grand National.
Connections of Quick Wave will now await what weight she will be given by British Horseracing Authority lead jumps handicapper Martin Greenwood when they are revealed at the traditional lunch at St George's Hall on Tuesday. But she will head to Aintree Racecourse on April 15 as one of the best hopes of a British winner in a race which has been dominated by Irish trainers in recent seasons.
Quick Wave is now as low as 25-1 with several bookmakers including the Trial sponsors Betfed for the Grand National.
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Winning jockey Bannister, who was having his first winner since returning to the saddle following a serious hip injury, said: “I can’t take too much credit as she’s a lovely filly and credit to Venetia and the team who had her spot on today. She’s an exceptionally good trainer and I’m just so thankful for her faith to put me back on this mare. It means a lot to get this first winner back, it’s been a long road and there’s a lot of people to thank.
“I probably ended up a bit closer to the inner than I’d have liked, but we saved ground where we could and she’s travelled to strongly and stayed well. She’s the ideal mare for a race like this.
“The fact she’s beaten Snow Leopardess and Cloudy Glen just shows her staying credentials, she appreciated being back on this ground after the Welsh National.
“My dad (Nick Bannister, Chairman of Haydock Park) will be gutted as he’s away in Morocco at the moment! It means a lot and it’s probably my most local track to home, so I enjoy every meeting here and winning this race means a lot.
On Quick Wave's Grand National credentials, Bannister added: "She is an economical jumper and there is no reason why she wouldn't take to the fences at Aintree."
Former Becher Chase winner Snow Leopardess bounced back from some indifferent efforts since her win at Aintree in December 2021 with a fine run in second. Charlie Longsdon's admirable grey mare will now head to the Cheltenham Festival for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase next month.
Longsdon said: “She’s run an absolute cracker to be honest. It’s great to get her back on the form we want her to be in and there’s no disgrace in finishing second. We’re gutted not to win of course but that’s neither here nor there. That will hopefully set her up nicely for the Cross Country next month and the ground wasn’t too bad today, she’s coped with everything admirably. It will be interesting to see how the handicapper reacts now, but she gets her 7lbs claim next month and I’m hopeful we can sneak into the place there. She’s been a superstar mare for us and I can’t ask any more from her."
The two others who hold an entry in the Grand National – Henry Daly's Fortescue and Grumpy Charley from the Chris Honour stable – finished fifth and pulled up respectively.
Mick Meagher, racing manager for the owners – the Hemmings family said: “I’m delighted with the run. We’ll probably look to enter him in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival now, there’s four weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree so it should work well. He’s in the Grand National so we’ll see. The lack of a run probably caught him out from the back of the second last, so he’s run an absolute blinder and I’m thrilled.”
The Mark Walford-trained Johnson's Blue (17-2) won for a seventh time this season when landing the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.
Under Jamie Hamilton, the six-year-old scored by a-length-and-a-half from 4-1 favourite The Changing Man with Mill Green (14-1) a further five-and-a-half lengths back in third.
Winning jockey Hamilton said: "He is a real trier and is genuine and jumps well. My plan wasn't to make the running but to get a good start. But I thought I would just follow the Harriet Graham horse as it went a real good gallop the last time. He was jumping and going forward, enjoying it, so I didn't want to disappoint them. The last furlong and a half felt like the line was never coming. But it was good win."
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Super Six (9-2) ran out a comfortable winner of the Betfred Play Fred’s 5 Million Handicap Chase under Jordan Nailor.
