MONET'S GARDEN BLOOMS AGAIN

February 20 2010

Monet's Garden is in complete control.

Nicky Richards headed back up the M6 to Cumbria with a Grade One prize after Monet's Garden gave his younger rivals a masterclass in jumping to land the Betfair Ascot Chase for a second time.

The Greystoke maestro has missed out on a couple of big prizes in Ireland with Money Trix, but Monet's Garden ensured he was not completely out of luck.

The 12-year-old struck in Berkshire in 2007 and also chased home Kauto Star 12 months later, although he missed out on taking part in last year's renewal.

Despite finishing mid-field here in November, the gallant grey proved himself to be no back number with an all-the-way win under top weight at Aintree at the beginning of the season, and he repeated the trick under Barry Geraghty.

He soon shook off the attentions of Herecomesthetruth and ground his rivals in submission to have matters sewn up before the turn for home.

The 11-2 chance was still going strong as he crossed the line a length and a half clear of Albertas Run, with The Sawyer finishing well for third.

Richards said: "Brilliant, wasn't it? When he is right he is great and he got into a lovely rhythm.

"Barry and him get a great tune from each other and any jockey would be happy sitting on top of him singing a song and enjoying it.

"He is top class at this distance and it is all important to have him fresh, as it is with any horse.

"He would run through the grandstand for you, he is that genuine, but given the effort he puts into his races he can take time to get over them.

"He is now into the veteran stage so he will tell us when he is ready to run again. There is Aintree or we could wait until Perth in the spring.

"All being well, and if he is fit, we will back here again next year."

Richards had taken a handful of his horses down to Geoff Wragg's Newmarket yard in mid-December when the Arctic conditions had left his northern base frozen.

Richards added: "We had 10 boxes down at Mr Wragg's and I don't imagine he has had too many Grade One chasers in his yard.

"He was in the same box as Takeover Target and if he hadn't been down there then he probably wouldn't have been fit enough to win today.

"Mr Wragg has been a gentleman to let us use his yard, and there will be a few bottles of wine on the way to him after this!"

Geraghty said: "He loves it and for a 12-year-old he is so game.

"They say older pilots aren't so brave but that is not the case with him and he is the bravest I have ridden."

Albertas Run had landed the November race in which Monet's Garden had disappointed, but Jonjo O'Neill's runner was comprehensively outpointed on this occasion.

The trainer said: "It was a good run, just not quite good enough on the day and your man (Monet's Garden) is a great horse on his day."

As to future plans, O'Neill added: "He's in the Ryanair and the Gold Cup and it will depend on the ground."

The Sawyer was the 20-1 outsider of the five runners and belied his odds to finish a little under two lengths behind Albertas Run.

His trainer Bob Buckler said: "It was a super run, he's a fantastic horse.

"I dread to think what the handicapper will do now but the plan is to go for the two-mile-five race at Cheltenham and we think we've found a two-mile-six race at Autueil in May that might suit him well."