Madison Du Berlais heads straight to Aintree

MADISON DU BERLAIS, eighth to Kauto Star in last season's Totesport Gold Cup, will bypass this year's renewal and head straight to Aintree for his next start.

The Roger Stanley and Yvonne Reynolds owned nine-year-old went on to land the Totesport Bowl following his Gold Cup performance, beating the mighty Denman in the process.

 

Madison Du Berlais once again has the Totesport Bowl as one of two options at Aintree, the other being the John Smith's Grand National, for which he is a best priced 50-1 chance.

ChesterBarnes, spokesman for the David Pipe yard, told davidpipe.com: "David announced on Monday that Madison Du Berlais will bypass his engagements at the Cheltenham Festival and instead go straight to Aintree.

"Madison, who won last year's Totesport Bowl at the Grand National meeting, has finished in the frame on his four starts(including when runner-up in the King George Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day), but has yet to get his head in front this term.

"He is absolutely fine, but rather than head to Cheltenham he will instead be kept for Aintree where hecould aim to defend his title in the Bowl, or run in the Grand National itself."

Madison Du Berlais also had the option of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

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