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Andy Stewart hopes for big winner at Aintree

Bryony Frost and Black Corton land the Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices' Chase
Image: Bryony Frost and Black Corton in winning action at Ascot

Andy Stewart is banking on Black Corton to give Bryony Frost the perfect birthday present in Friday's Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.

The pair have struck up a great partnership this season, winning seven of the nine races they have teamed up in, but Stewart is a little wary of the fact it has been a long season.

"I think Aintree could be a more suitable course for him than Cheltenham and it is Bryony's 23rd birthday tomorrow, so what better present could she have?" said Stewart, who owns Black Corton in a partnership that includes TV presenter Jeremy Kyle.

"The horse is well, but he has had a lot of racing. We've kept him quiet since Cheltenham, he had a racecourse gallop at Wincanton and we're hoping he has one more big run in him.

"I've got Old Guard running on Saturday ridden by Bryony's boyfriend Harry Cobden, so I'm taking them all out for dinner tomorrow to celebrate - hopefully a Black Corton win and Bryony's birthday."

Joe Tizzard has drawn similarities between Elegant Escape's preparation and that of Native River, who won the race for the yard two years ago.

"He's come out of Cheltenham really well. He's probably the best three-mile novice chaser in Britain," Tizzard, assistant to his father Colin, told At The Races.

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"He beat all the British horses again at Cheltenham and he's got a similar run up to it as Native River, who won it two years ago.

"I think Cheltenham was probably his best run yet and I think there's a bit more to come."

Scarlet Dragon bypassed the Festival as Alan King opted to target the Betway Top Novices' Hurdle.

"He made a pleasing start over hurdles when runner-up in the Dovecote at Kempton in February. He was quite keen there so the fact that they ought to go faster will suit him better," King told his website.

"I am pleased that we missed Cheltenham - the Supreme came little more than two weeks after Kempton - and the extra time has done him the world of good. He lacks the experience of some of the others, but his work at home has been very good and the preparation has gone well."

Scarlet Dragon faces impressive Dovecote winner Global Citizen once more.

Fergal O'Brien was perplexed by Poetic Rhythm's dull effort in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival and is keen to see more from him in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

He said: "I was very disappointed at Cheltenham. He was our first Grade One winner and he was our main hope. You can blame the ground, but he just never really turned up.

"He seems in great form at home. Maybe he was a little bit rusty going there and we should have sharpened him up, but who knows? He came out of Cheltenham like he hadn't had a run."

Nicky Henderson holds a strong hand with Santini, Ok Corral and Chef Des Obeaux featuring among a field of 14.

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