Smashing Shannon's

SHANNON'S PRIDE proved himself further to be an honest, if one-paced, galloper of some merit when clinching third place in the Grand Sefton Chase over the fearsome Grand National course at Aintree, thereby beating the best finish Richard Guest has managed over the "big 'uns" as a trainer - MR BOSSMAN got fourth place in the Topham in 2003. Shannon's was kept close to the leaders but fairly wide throughout, Larry McGrath making doubly sure the horse encountered as little trouble in running as possible, and was rewarded with a very clean round of jumping. Guest had been quick to point out the horse's jumping prowess in the Post earlier this morning, and there was indeed no semblance of an error the whole way round.

A return visit for the Topham must clearly rank as a major target now, although it'll need a soggy Aintree for him to take his chance.

The soft going at Aintree would have counted against TIPSY MOUSE in the same race, ditto the shortish trip of 2m 6f, but for all that the horse didn't seem to enjoy the challenge one iota, not taking a cut at any of his fences and sulking round in a tailed-off 13th position. His lack of obvious progress up the weights so far, plus his apparent dislike for the Aintree fences, to my mind have put paid to any aspirations of a Grand National run for him, and I don't think having run in over the more suitable 3m 3f of the Becher Chase would have made any difference in his present form. Back to the drawing board with this one now....