MEDERMIT TO START OFF IN AINTREE'S BETFRED MONET'S GARDEN OLD ROAN CHASE

Medermit is likely to start his season off in the £65,000 Grade Two Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree on Saturday, October 27, 2012.

The eight-year-old has been a leading light of Alan King's Barbury Castle Stables in recent years, with eight wins including a runaway victory at Aintree during his novice chasing days during the 2010/2011 season. His final novice chase resulted in a good second to Wishfull Thinking in the Grade Two Betfred Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in April, 2011.

He captured the Grade Two Betfred Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on his seasonal debut in November last year and finished in the frame in his other five starts that season, the last three at Grade One level.

Medermit rounded off the campaign with a fast-finishing fourth in the Grade One Betfred Bowl at Aintree's John Smith's Grand National meeting, beaten just over three lengths by Follow The Plan over three miles and a furlong on April 12.

King said: "The Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase is a race we are looking at for Medermit. He has been in good order and the race looks like a nice starting point for him.

"I do want to go further with him this year but I thought two and a half miles to start would be ideal and he has run well around Aintree in the past.

"He had a grand season last season and his handicap mark went up every time he ran. We only won the one race but he was always there or thereabouts.

"I don't know if he can improve any more but hopefully he can maintain where he is and we will just have to see.

"We definitely want to go the three-mile route with him this season and I would say, all things being equal after Aintree, we will step him up in trip. We would be looking at races like the Betfair Chase and the King George."

The Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase, over two and a half miles of the Mildmay Course, was first run at Aintree in 2004 and has been won by some jumping icons including 16-time Grade One winner Kauto Star in 2006.

Albertas Run, a three-time Grade One winner at the Cheltenham Festival, captured the race last season in determined fashion under 16-time champion jockey AP McCoy and is likely to return to Aintree for a repeat bid.

The race is run in honour of three-time winner of the contest and Aintree specialist Monet's Garden for a second year.

One of the most popular chasers of recent times, Monet's Garden etched his name into Aintree folklore with three sensational victories in the Grade Two limited handicap chase in 2007 (beating Kauto Star), 2009 and 2010 and also triumphed in the Grade One John Smith's Melling Chase and the Liverpool Hurdle at the John Smith's Grand National meeting.

The gallant grey, who won 17 of his 32 races for trainer Nicky Richards and owner David Wesley Yates, retired from racing in January, 2011 and battled bravely against a life-threatening hoof infection which he is fully recovered from.

The 14-year-old, now looked after by Richards' daughter Joey, paraded at Aintree before the running of the Betfred Old Roan Chase last year and has already been to Aintree this year, having attended as a show horse in July when he finished sixth in the retrained racehorse class. 

Betfred Old Roan Chase Day, with the first race at 1.50pm, also features the £20,000 Betfred Mobile Sports Veterans' Handicap Chase, which is for horses aged 10 and above.

Matalan Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 28 is geared towards the younger generation with a number of exciting activities off the track including the chance to meet Peppa Pig, a medal craft workshop, pony riding and grooming, face painters, ride like a jockey and dance classes with MDI.

The day has a fancy dress competition with both children and adults encouraged to dress up as their favourite sporting personalities of 2012.

Aintree will also host its first edition of the M-Factor which invites the younger generation to show off their talents and skills in front of a panel of judges for a chance of winning a £2,000 prize, made up of £1,000 cash and £1,000 worth of Matalan vouchers.

The racing highlights are the £20,000 Weatherbys Hamilton Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Chase and the £16,000 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, with the first of seven races due off at 1.10pm.