Allmankind sparkles at Aintree

Aintree Sunday

THE Old Roan rarely disappoints, and the Grade 2 feature at Aintree on Sunday once again served up an exciting finish, with Dan Skelton’s Allmankind proving very genuine in making almost all the running. Sent to the front by Harry Skelton from flag fall, the five-year-old was pressed on all sides in the straight, but despite conceding the lead briefly at the third last, where he made his only error, he dug very deep under pressure to beat Itchy Feet and Midnight Shadow by a length and a length and a half.

The 9/4 favourite produced a career-best effort in conceding 7lb to a Grade 1 winner, while Midnight Shadow, a Grade 2 winner, was receiving a stone, marking this down as high-class form.

Allmankind met his only defeat over fences when going off too hard in the Arkle, and he has shown since that he is equally effective at two and a half miles, which opens up options for him.

The placed horses need no excuses, although Itchy Feet can do better if and when he can iron out his trademark mistakes.

The eye-catcher was Fanion D’Estruval, who looked likely to lose touch early on the second circuit after some cumbersome jumping, but who absolutely rattled home to finish fourth, just four lengths behind the leader.

If putting his first-circuit display down to rustiness, then he looks one to keep on side. It’s tempting to suggest he was merely passing beaten horses at the end of a well-run race, but analysis of the times shows that wasn’t the case.

The winning handler said: “I knew I had to go to Chepstow over hurdles to get a run into him, because I was saying the whole way along that he can’t win here unless he gets a run in – so it was so important that he got that run in over hurdles.

Breaks rules

“There’s not many horses that you can switch hurdles to fences and back and know that you’re going to get that consistency with – but he breaks a lot of rules, this horse.

“He’s only five years old and he’s just won a handicap off 160. He doesn’t know how to let himself down or anyone around, and he’s just an absolute credit to the game. He wants to win, and it’s just a great attitude to have – some are born with it, and some aren’t. To have that desire, and ability to match, is unusual – and that’s why he’s top-class. He’s just a fantastic horse to have anything to do with.”

Skelton’s long-term aim with the horse is to return to Aintree for the Melling Chase in April, and he plans to give him just one run in the interim, while he reiterated his view that Cheltenham isn’t really his track. All of those comments suggest that a bid for the Champion Chase – for which he was cut to 20/1 after this – is very unlikely, although intrepid punters might want to find a price for the 2022 King George at Kempton.

“I’m not going to over-race him” said Skelton “Let’s not empty the well, and leave something there for when he’s seven, eight and nine. If you over-race him this year, you’re going to inevitably come to the end of your journey with him, and I don’t want that. Ultimately, I think he’ll race over three miles.”