Jockey Kielan Woods is “really excited” to be heading back to the scene of his biggest triumph in the saddle as Millers Bank bids for more glory in the Jewson St Helens Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
As racing returns to the home of the Randox Grand National, Woods and Millers Bank look for more success in the Grade Two feature having teamed up to secure Grade One glory in the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase over course and distance at Aintree in April.
The Alex Hales-trained eight-year-old finished fifth on his most recent start at the Punchestown Festival after his Aintree win. But the Gloucestershire-based rider, who celebrated his 30th birthday earlier this month, insists he can return to form on his seasonal reappearance back on Merseyside this weekend.
Woods said: “I’m really excited and he was fantastic last season. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be as good this season as he was last.
“He is fresh and ready to go and that run at Punchestown will have stood him in good stead as they are big fences there. Although we didn’t get that competitive it was more experience for him.
“He likes a flat track and this looks a perfect race to start him off in. Hopefully he can put in a nice clear round of jumping. If he gets beaten by a better horse on the day so be it as this is only a starting point.”
The eight-year-old had been third in a Grade One over hurdles at Aintree in April 2021 and has won twice in six starts over the bigger obstacles since. Following his first win over fences at Huntingdon last October the gelded son of Passing Glance unseated his rider – Harry Bannister – at both Newbury and Cheltenham. But under Woods he was the runner-up to Pic D'Orhy in the Grade Two Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase under Woods at Kempton Park in February. Despite a couple of mishaps, Woods has no worries over his jumping having partnered him to success at Aintree.
He said: “I didn’t really sit on him at the start of the last season as Harry Bannister did but he had a bit of bad luck on him and I got the ride back.
“He didn’t do too much wrong and he was just a bit unfortunate to get unseated twice and he was running some lovely races but sometimes these things happen in racing. He takes a little bit of organising but he is a good jumper.
“He is not a horse I normally ride out at home but I do school him when I go in. They are all happy with him at home. He has had a couple of schools and he has jumped very well.”
Woods, who also claimed success at the Cheltenham Festival last season aboard Global Citizen, was delighted with his first Grade One success in April. And he has some great memories of that day at Aintree.
He said: “The race was very straightforward. He got into a lovely rhythm and he jumped well all the way. I could not believe how he quickened up after the last.
“It was an unbelievable feeling and something I had always dreamed off. It was a bit of a shock and it didn’t really sink in until I looked back at it. It was a great to win a Grade One and it would be great to get more on the board.
“At the start of last season I had just got the job with Ben Pauling and for Global Citizen to come along and win a Grand Annual was great. It came at the right time as it had been a bit stop start with injuries. To get that and then the Grade One at Aintree was unbelievable.”
Woods believes Millers Bank could step up in trip from this 2m4f to staying distances in the future. He said: “He ran over an extended three miles at Punchestown but that came a bit quick after running at the top level at Aintree. Had he turned up in the same form as Aintree he would have gone much closer. Fair play to Alex for taking him over to have a go as not many English horses went over there. I think he will stay all day long and I have no queries about that whatsoever. I’d have no qualms about him getting three miles in the future.”
Sunday’s seven-race card at Aintree starts with the opener, The Jewson Click and Collect Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, due off at 1.30pm and the finale, the Jewson Southport, Bispham Road EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, is scheduled for 5.05pm.
Gates open at 11.30am and the afternoon is being billed as a Halloween Family Day with plenty of entertainment off the track as well as on it for families including a ghost train, haunted house, Halloween treasure trail and face painters.
Tickets cost £25 (although there are discounts for groups of 15 plus), while accompanied under-18s go free. There are also hospitality packages from £45 in the Platinum Lounge.
For more details and to buy tickets go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/october-afternoon-racing/tickets/#filteredby=ga&tab=day1
2.40pm Jewson St Helens Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade Two) 2m3f200y – Declared Runners
1 Hitman (FR) ts 6-11-12 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
2 Millers Bank 8-11-6 Millers Bank Partnership Alex Hales Kielan Woods
3 Do Your Job (IRE) ts 8-10-13 Mr Mark Dunphy Michael Scudamore Luca Morgan (3)
4 Captain Tom Cat (IRE) 7-10-12 Deva Racing (CTC) Dr Richard Newland Sam Twiston-Davies
5 Ga Law (FR) 6-10-9 The Footie Partnership Jamie Snowden Jonathan Burke
6 Soldier of Destiny (IRE) ts 6-10-4 Sir Chips Keswick Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan
7 Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) ts 9-10-3 Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott Richard Hobson Brian Hughes
8 Beakstown (IRE) ts, p 9-10-2 Bryan Drew Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
Eight declared runners
