Willie Mullins celebrated his fourth victory in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase as Gentleman De Mee defied a hefty weight of 11st 11lb to triumph at odds of 14-1. The nine-year-old gelding, owned by JP McManus, showed great stamina and determination to surge ahead in the final stages, clinching the win by a narrow three-quarters of a length over Lisnamult Lad. Mullins, known for his strategic approach to training, felt this race suited Gentleman De Mee perfectly at this stage of his career, and he suggested that a future appearance in the Grand National could be considered, though it might be a stretch.
Reflecting on his team’s performance at Aintree, Mullins noted his surprise at how well his horses had performed last year, prompting him to bring a strong group once again. He hinted at the possibility of splitting his stable into separate teams for Aintree, Punchestown, and other events like Ayr, with the aim of further success at future festivals.
Winning jockey Mark Walsh was full of praise for his mount’s performance. Despite a less-than-ideal start, where he found himself towards the back of the pack, Walsh patiently waited for the right moment to make his move. As the race unfolded, Gentleman De Mee’s impressive jumping ability came to the forefront, and by the time they reached the second-last fence, Walsh had found a gap and made a decisive move up the field. With a history of Grade One success, including a second-place finish in the Champion Chase, Gentleman De Mee proved his quality once again, delivering a memorable performance in this high-profile race.
On the other hand, Lisnamult Lad’s jockey, Johnny Burke, did not blame the interference caused by a loose horse, Ash Tree Meadow, but acknowledged that it had cost him some momentum. Despite the setback, Burke was pleased with the performance of his mount, who ran with great accuracy and confidence. He admitted that, in the end, it was a case of being narrowly beaten by a superior horse. However, he remains hopeful that Lisnamult Lad will return to Aintree in the future, with the potential for better results.
Trainer Ian Donoghue of Lisnamult Lad saw some humor in the incident involving Ash Tree Meadow, jokingly blaming his brother Keith, who had fallen off the loose horse earlier in the race. Nonetheless, he was proud of his horse’s effort and expressed his satisfaction with the performance, especially given the horse’s previous successes, including a win at Cheltenham. He was also grateful to owner Matt Rogers, whose support has been crucial to the team’s success, and to whom he dedicated the effort.
Other jockeys provided insights into their horses’ performances. Jack Andrews spoke highly of Latenightpass, a seasoned horse who has completed multiple rounds of the national fences but might now prefer slower ground or a longer distance. Paul Townend mentioned that Blue Lord did not enjoy the race, while James Best and Danny Gilligan both praised their mounts, Escaria Ten and The Goffer, for their efforts in the challenging race.
The Topham Handicap Chase once again proved to be a thrilling spectacle at the Randox Grand National Festival, with Gentleman De Mee’s impressive victory standing out as one of the key moments of the event.
