Top Ville Ben Gives Connections Options Following Cotswold Chase Run

Top Ville Ben

Top Ville Ben after his win at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Image via @pkirbyracing

Although trainer Philip Kirby has yet to confirm if Top Ville Ben will run in the Randox Health Grand National this year, he may be tempted by the world’s most famous steeplechase following his horse’s run in the Cotswold Chase on Saturday.

Top Ville Ben ran an excellent race, finishing third behind Santini and Bristol De Mai respectively. The Cheltenham winner looks a strong contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup now, while the runner-up is a proven Grade One champion.

The eight-year-old chaser was held up in the early stages of the 3m1½f contest by jockey Thomas Dowson. Although he was no match for the front two, he finished ahead of the likes of Slate House and De Rasher Corner.

After his victory in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby last month, Kirby was questioned on whether his horse would be aimed for the National in April. He said: “He’s a National-type horse. Whether it is this season, we will find out in the fullness of time.”

His run at Cheltenham last Saturday was his 10th appearance over fences. His jumping has improved so much since he came down in the RSA Chase at the Festival back in March.

Quoted at 33/1 for National with some bookmakers

Top Ville Ben is generally quoted at 33/1 for the Grand National following his run at Cheltenham. He has featured at Aintree once before, although that was on the Mildmay Course where he was third in a novice contest last April.

Kirby’s chaser went into the Cotswold Chase rated at 164, therefore, if he does feature in the 4m2½f contest in April, he is likely to have one of the biggest weights in the race.

Gold Cup shot could also be on the cards in March

The Grand National is unlikely to be the only race that connections are seriously considering for the rest of the season. Given he has been competitive against two strong Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders, the Blue Riband event at the Festival is sure to be in their minds now.

Top Ville Ben is now as short as 50/1 with some bookmakers for the feature race at the Festival. Those odds would likely shorten further if he was part of the final 48-hour declarations for that contest on the Friday of the meeting.

Kirby was full of praise for his horse following his Cotswold Chase outing. He said: “Just to have a horse to run in those races is brilliant. I thought he did everything right. It’s the first time we’ve properly dropped him in there – and he’s learning all the time and going the right way.”

Eight-year-olds have a good recent record in the Grand National

The northern-based trained is likely to be encouraged by the record eight-year-olds have in the Grand National over the last few years. Three of the last five winners have come from that age category.

Many Clouds prevailed as an eight-year-old in 2015. One For Arthur was victorious at that age in 2017, while Tiger Roll’s first success came when he was eight.

It remains to be seen if Top Ville Ben will attempt to add his name to the Grand National honours list in April but he looks sure to be a contender at some point in the future.

Latest News

De Bromhead happy to have Chief for Aintree

Image via @hernon-michael Henry de Bromhead knows exactly what it takes to win the Grand National at Aintree and the Irish handler is looking to target the big race in the spring of 2025 with Senior Chief. The Co Waterford handler won the race in 2021 with Minella Times, as Rachael Blackmore famously became the […]

Mullins confirms I Am Maximus for repeat Aintree attempts

2X0TCRY 13th April 2024; Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England: 2024 Grand National Festival Day 3; I am Maximus ridden by Paul Townend wins The Randox Grand National Steeple Chase Willie Mullins admits that owner JP McManus is dreaming of winning a second – and maybe even a third – Aintree Grand National with I Am […]

Blackmore recovering after neck injury

TOPSHOT – First placed Jockey Rachael Blackmore rides Minella Times to win the Grand National Handicap Chase on Grand National Day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, north west England on April 10, 2021. (Photo by SCOTT HEPPELL / POOL / AFP) Grand National-winning rider Rachel Blackmore is on the road […]
18+ | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
grandnational.org.uk is an independent professional comparison site supported by referral fees from the sites which are ranked on this site. The sites and information we present are from companies from which grandnational.org.uk receives compensation. This compensation may impact the rankings of the sites. Other factors, including our own opinions, your location, and the likelihood of signing up, may also impact how the ranking of the sites appears to a particular user. grandnational.org.uk cannot and does not present information about every betting/casino site or betting/casino site offer available.