Remastered ups claim for Randox Grand National

David Pipe hinted that the Randox Grand National could be on the radar for the likeable Remastered (11-2), who picked up a deserved success with a game performance to win the Ladbrokes Play '"1-2-Free" On Football Handicap Chase at Kempton Park on Tuesday, write The Jockey Club's Graham Clark and Nick Seddon.

The nine-year-old produced a fine effort in defeat when second to Le Milos in last month’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and he was right at his best here – despite some misfortune at the start.

The son of Network lost several lengths due to a messy start to the three-mile contest but he soon recovered under jockey Tom Scudamore, quickly nipping clear of the field upon rounding the bend for home.

Remastered has now won two of his three starts this term having made a winning reappearance over timber at Aintree in November and his trainer hinted that his charge could well head back to Merseyside in the spring, for a tilt over the world-famous Grand National fences.

David Pipe said: "The plan was to make the running so what could go wrong probably did and he probably hasn’t jumped as well as he’s been chasing the pace, so it was a good performance to win it. We didn’t think the weight would inconvenience him because he’s a big, brutal horse – even after his races he’s not quiet! Fariq rides him every day and does a fantastic job with him and keeping on top with him.

“It took us four hours to get here so when that happened (at the start) I was just thinking let’s go home! Luckily Tom didn’t panic and we went a nice gallop and turning down the back straight you could see him creeping into it. Whatever happened the last three furlongs was going to be his strongest part of the race.

“We’ve moved on from the Coral Gold Cup now and a win is a win. What I’ve been really pleased with this year is that he’s been a strong finisher since his wind op in the summer. He might have an entry in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield or we’ll look at the Peter Marsh at Haydock Park.

“You’d better speak to his owners (Brocade Racing, about the Grand National). It would be a possibility but we’d have to see what they’d want to do. I’d never thought that kind of trip was on his radar, but since his wind op it’s possible.”

The JP McManus-owned No Ordinary Joe defied a 374-day absence to make his return to action a triumphant one when getting the better of a pulsating finish in the concluding Ladbrokes Fanzone “Your Team Your Game” Handicap Hurdle.

Not sighted since pulling up in a Grade Three contest at Ascot last December the Nicky Henderson-trained six year old showed he was ready to roll on his comeback when getting the better of last time out Huntingdon scorer Big Boy Bobby by a short-head.

Nicky Henderson said: “He has not been the easiest. It is first run for a bit so he has done well to get there. He was going so well but then he had a big blow then he has had to fill up and have one last gasp. He has given him a beautiful ride.

“He is talented, but he needs life to go his way. He will be running in those sort of races (big handicaps). The question is does he want to go two and a half. He travelled well through the race there and got to the front easy enough.

The victory ended what has been a profitable couple days for winning jockey James Bowen, who rode a double for Henderson at Wincanton on Boxing Day which included a first jumps winner for The King aboard Steal A March.

Henderson added: “It has been a good weekend for him and he is riding great, and so is Nico (de Boinville) but it goes without saying they are two very good jockeys.

“It was (quite momentous having a first jumps winner for The King) and it gave us a lot of pleasure. Amazingly he wasn’t quite the last of The Queen’s winner’s but he won at Worcester on Derby Day which was Platinum Jubilee weekend.

“Everyone was trying to get a winner for The Queen that weekend but good old Steal A March jumped up, although he wasn’t the most obvious one.

“I thought we ought to try and make sure we have a runner at the Festival and that was a Pertemps qualifier I said whatever you do get qualified. He got the job done really well and the plan would be to go straight there.

“I spoke to the Queen Consort this morning. It was great and it is nice to get going. Hopefully she will be able to come to Cheltenham.”