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Menorah treads familiar path for Hobbs and Johnson

Menorah (left) overcame Valseur Lido to win this race for the third time in 2016
Menorah (left) overcame Valseur Lido to win this race for the third time in 2016Credit: Edward Whitaker

bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2)2m6½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RUK

In one race we have ample demonstration that a lot can change in a year, while some things have a habit of staying resolutely the same.

Menorah has a fourth straight success in the race in his sights, the first two coming when it carried only Listed status.

Last year's Grade 2 debut was worthy of the upgrade for the presence alone of Valseur Lido, who arrived off the back of a fine second to Vautour at Cheltenham and with trainer Willie Mullins throwing everything at becoming champion on both sides of the Irish sea.

Menorah overcame him and in the process provided the perfect script line for Richard Johnson, who after years of living as permanent understudy to Sir Anthony McCoy was crowned champion jockey for the first time on this day 12 months ago.

The 12-year-old Menorah and Johnson are both back for the encore but much water has flowed under the bridge in other parts and it is the title-chasing duo of Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson who provide three-fifths of the opposition in what, on paper, looks less of test for Grahame and Diana Whateley's durable campaigner.

Josses Hill has similar conditions to his win in the Peterbrough Chase in December
Josses Hill has similar conditions to his win in the Peterbrough Chase in DecemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Josses Hill has been set some stiff tasks since winning the Peterborough Chase over just short of this trip at right-handed Huntingdon in December and, if that turns out to be an important element in his make-up, he would appear one of the chief threats to Menorah's continued domination.

He will have to erase memories of a disappointing effort behind Fox Norton at Aintree in the Melling Chase, where the reopposing Traffic Fluide stayed all the way to the line after appearing outpaced.

Gary Moore gets to test the theory that his French import needs further than that sharp two and a half miles and has added cheekpieces in the hope to aid Traffic Fluide's concentration.

Nicholls is two-handed and there is not much on the book between Art Mauresque and Vibrato Valtat, who has run well at the track in the past but has looked difficult to place this season.

Third Intention may appreciate a return to conventional fences after outings in the Cheltenham cross-country and the Topham at Aintree, but was beaten a fair way by Menorah in this race 12 months ago.


Penalty miss a bonus for Moore

Traffic Fluide is the only one of the six to escape any form of penalty and is officially 4lb well in with Menorah.


What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Josses Hill
He has to go this way around. He got lost around Aintree last time and this will suit him much better. Conditions should be just what he wants.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Menorah
He doesn’t want winter ground so we left him off and he has his going here. He has won this race for the last three years and we hope we can make it four in a row. He's in really good form.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Vibrato Valtat and Art Mauresque
Both have been having a hard time of it with the handicapper but will both love the ground. You can put a line through Vibrato's last run as he didn’t like the blinkers or the ground. He wants a trip these days. We thought Art Mauresque would run well at Cheltenham the other day but I think he struggled on the watered ground. He seems in good form.

Gary Moore, trainer of Traffic Fluide
He looks like he's been crying out for this trip. He was flat out all the way round Liverpool the other day, when he turned into the straight last and finished third behind a very good horse who won again in Ireland the other day. He seemed to travel better in the Champion Chase than he did at Aintree so I've put a pair of cheekpieces on to sharpen him up a bit. He ought to win if I'm being honest.

Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 28 April 2017inPreviews

Last updated 15:47, 28 April 2017

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