Cheltenham and now Aintree — the handicapper will have questions.
The 3:05 at Aintree on a Thursday afternoon in April is not a race that announces itself quietly. The Topham Handicap Chase — run over the Grand National fences, those storied obstacles that have humbled generations of horses and riders — drew a field of thirty runners this year, and the market had a clear opinion about who should lead them home.
Madara, sent off at 7/2 favourite, arrived at Aintree with momentum behind him. The French-bred chaser had not been long with his current yard, but he had already made his mark, putting up what observers called an impressive display when winning the Plate at Cheltenham. That victory came with a consequence — a rise in the weights — but the handicapper's arithmetic did not appear to deter punters, who made him the shortest-priced runner in a competitive thirty-horse field.
The race was run over the unique challenge of the National fences, which demand a different kind of jumping from a horse than the conventional obstacles found at most tracks. The Topham is, in that sense, a test of adaptability as much as raw ability — a horse must be bold, accurate, and willing to meet those big open ditches and spruce-topped fences with confidence.
Behind Madara in the market came Ile Atlantique at 11/2, and then Gentleman De Mee at 17/2 — a horse with a particular claim on this race, having won the Topham twelve months earlier. Defending a handicap title is never straightforward; the weights move against you, the field knows what you can do, and the course offers no favours to sentiment. But Gentleman De Mee's presence in the field was not taken lightly by those who study the form.
Dan Skelton, one of the most productive trainers in the jumps game, had reason to watch the race with interest from more than one angle. Boombawn, an Irish-bred runner sent off at 18/1, carried his colours, as did Will The Wise at 9/1 — giving Skelton what the form analysts described as a strong hand in the race.
The rest of the field spread out across a wide range of prices, from Viroflay at 10/1 and Booster Bob at 11/1 through to the longer-priced hopefuls at the tail of the market. Mahons Glory and Prairie Wolf were both available at 16/1. Further back still, runners like Conflated, Theatre Native, and The King Of Prs were sent off at 50/1, with Eldorado Allen at 66/1, Pour Les Filles at 80/1, and Indiana Jones the rank outsider of the field at 100/1.
When the result came in, it was Madara who had justified the market's faith, crossing the line first. Gentleman De Mee, the defending champion, filled second place — a performance that confirmed his continued quality even if the title did not return to him. Boombawn completed the placings in third, giving Skelton's yard a share of the prize money and underlining the strength of his team's preparation.
For Madara, it was a second major handicap scalp in quick succession — Cheltenham and now Aintree, over the National fences, in the space of a few weeks. Whether the handicapper's response to this latest victory will eventually catch up with him is the question that will follow the horse into whatever comes next.
Notable Quotes
Not long with his current yard, Madara put up an impressive display when winning the Plate at Cheltenham — a rise in the weights might not prevent him from landing another major handicap.— Sporting Life race analysis
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does winning the Plate at Cheltenham make Madara interesting for the Topham specifically?
The Plate is a competitive handicap chase at the Festival — it filters out horses that can't handle a big field and a pressured pace. Winning it tells you the horse is genuine under those conditions.
And the National fences — are they really that different from ordinary obstacles?
Considerably. They're built differently, they're bigger, and they require a horse to back off and measure its jump rather than just ping them. Some horses never adapt. The ones that do tend to be bold and intelligent jumpers.
Gentleman De Mee came back and finished second after winning the race last year. What does that tell you?
That he's a consistent performer at this track and over these fences. Second in a thirty-runner handicap off a higher weight than last year is not a failure — it's a confirmation of class.
Dan Skelton had two runners in the race. Is that unusual?
Not for a yard his size. Running two horses in the same race can be a tactical choice — they can set different paces, cover different ground. It also just reflects how many horses he has in form at any given time.
What does a 100/1 shot like Indiana Jones even represent in a field like this?
Usually a horse that's either very lightly raced over fences, or one whose recent form doesn't inspire confidence. Sometimes connections just want the experience of running over the National fences. Occasionally one of them surprises everyone.
Is there a pattern to horses that win the Topham going on to run in the Grand National itself?
Some do make the step up — the fences are the same, the track is familiar. But the National is four miles and more, and the Topham is a very different test of stamina. It's a pointer, not a guarantee.