Doumen Goes For Gold

First Gold will face seven rivals when he attempts to win his third Betfair Bowl at Aintree tomorrow. Francois Doumen´s star chaser took the race when it was known as the Martell Cup in 2001 and again two years later.

He was second to Tiutchev in the Grade Two contest 12 months ago, but has not won for almost two years and, as a result, the 12-year-old escapes a penalty for the #150,000 event.

He will receive 10lb from Grey Abbey, Thisthatandtother and his old rival Tiutchev, and 6lb from totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup third Sir Rembrandt.

Tony McCoy takes the ride on First Gold, who will as usual be equipped with blinkers.

First Gold runs here instead of the John Smith´s Grand National on Saturday when he would have had to carry 11st 11lb.

'It is a track he knows very well - better than he would have known the Grand National track,' explained Doumen today.

'Top weight in the Grand National statistically is a very difficult thing to face and we had a problem finding a jockey for the Grand National. He also gets 10lb off the better ones tomorrow.

'All these things together made me choose tomorrow´s race. The horse is in such good form despite being a 12-year-old, so let´s go for it.

'Tactically, he´s quite happy near the front. It all depends what the pace is going to be and the ground, but Tony will know what to do so I´ll leave it to him.'

First Gold ran well to be second to Lord Transcend at Haydock Park in January, but was pulled up at Newbury on his most recent outing on March 5.

Doumen continued: 'I wanted to give him a race before Aintree and the only suitable date was the Newbury race.

'The horse at 12 can be a bit sulky when he finds the rhythm is not what he is used to. He just sulked and Tony was absolutely right not to let him do the last three jumps.

'He had a good blow and he is now absolutely fine for his next race.'

Sir Rembrandt requires a true test of stamina and he usually reserves his best runs for stiffer tracks.

Trainer Robert Alner´s wife Sally said: 'He´s been fine since Cheltenham. We could just do with a hill in the middle of Aintree.

'There aren´t too many races at Cheltenham and Chepstow for him, and those are his places.

'I hope they have a lot more rain up there.'

Thisthatandtother, winner of the inaugural running of the Daily Telegraph Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, will be trying three miles for the first time.

Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth Grey Abbey is another in the field who will appreciate any cut in the ground at Aintree.

As well as Tiutchev, Martin Pipe will saddle Our Vic, who was sent off the 7-4 favourite for the Daily Telegraph, but after dropping out of contention was eventually pulled up on the run-in.

Alan King´s smart staying hurdler Crystal D´Ainay will bid to win his first race over fences in Britain and the line-up is completed by Irish challenger Jim.

Connections of Jim, a winner over hurdles at Naas in February and over fences at Leopardstown last month, are on a fact-finding mission with the eight-year-old.

His trainer Jim Dreaper said: 'We are well aware that he is stepping into a league he has never been in before.

'We are hoping for the best with a view to see what we should be aiming at next year.

'He´s a horse who has had a number of little niggling problems and he hasn´t had a whole season without interruption.

'He could have run in the handicap, but we are going to have a go tomorrow and it will give us some clue as to where we should hopefully aim next time.

'He´s in good nick. His last two runs were good. He didn´t beat very much but he did it well.

'Whether he gets this trip, particularly against these lads is another thing.

'Grey Abbey should make the running which will help.'

? PA Sport