Alex Hales admits he is gambling by taking Aintree hero Millers Bank to Punchestown for Tuesday’s Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.

Millers Bank is one of nine – including Bob Olinger – still in contention for the Grade 1 contest over three miles following his Manifesto Novices’ Chase win in Liverpool just under three weeks ago.

The eight-year-old stayed on strongly over the two-and-a-half-mile trip to beat War Lord by 10 lengths and his Edgcote-based handler feels he can roll the dice again in the valuable event.

“We have left him in at Punchestown and it is all systems go,” said Hales.

“We have been happy with him since he came out of Aintree. There is no doubt that it is a gamble, as it is only 19 days after Aintree but on the flip side, what have we got to lose?

“He is never going to be able to run as a novice again and he just seems fit and well.

“I think we are on a high and it is nothing ventured, nothing gained. As long as he comes back safe and sound, that’s all that matters. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t diminish his season, really.”

High hopes

Hales had high hopes for the son of Passing Glance yet things did not go according to plan mid-season, as he unseated at Newbury and Cheltenham, before having a minor wind operation.

The break certainly worked as he chased home Pic D’Orhy at Kempton before putting that rival to the sword at Aintree.

Hales added: “It was fabulous. It was a great day. When you have faith in something and you have had a few hiccoughs, it was nice to see it come right.

“We tinkered with his wind and whether that or the break helped him, something seemed to.

“Sometimes you have to take a step back, so we decided to miss Cheltenham and annoyingly – hindsight is a wonderful thing – we wish we had gone there.

“But Aintree obviously suits him well and he has won there twice, so I’m not complaining. We got a Grade 1 under our belts and it took me 20 years to find one of them.”

Whatever the outcome at Punchestown, connections are already looking forward to next season, with Aintree the long-term target.

“I think, if you were to hold me to something now, and while he still has to improve ratings-wise, I think we will work back from Aintree next season, either the Aintree Bowl or the Melling Chase,” said Hales.

“Aintree just seems to suit him. His form around flat tracks, although he hasn’t really run around undulating tracks, just seems to be better.

“Where you’d start from, I’m not sure. I don’t think he is a slogger.

“Would you start him off in the Charlie Hall? He is going to have to improve again and while it sounds ridiculous at the age of eight, he is only just coming into himself physically.”