Ungaro Poised For Aintree

Feltham winner Ungaro is on course to try and restore his reputation in the John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree on Friday.

Keith Reveley's eight-year-old looked to be a recruit of the highest order with his 10-length demolition job in the Grade One event at Kempton in December, but soft ground meant he was not seen again until tackling Denman at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, he was never travelling with his customary ease that day for Timmy Murphy and some uncharacteristic jumping errors spoiled his chance.

He is reportedly back in good heart and Reveley believes the Mildmay course at Liverpool will be right up his street.

'I think the idea is to run him,' said Reveley.

'He seemed to enjoy Kempton and I know this is the other way round but ? fingers crossed ? it should suit him.

'He just got in a bad position at Cheltenham. He made a mistake at the first, he had to track very wide and he was too far behind throughout. He also made two more mistakes at crucial stages as well.

'He ran on well at the end and wasn't too far behind but he just didn't get the rub of the green. He ran OK.

'The pace of the race didn't have anything to do with it. Cheltenham's a funny place and you can't make mistakes, especially at crucial times like he was doing, and he could never get on the heels of the leaders, which was where he wanted to be.

'I'm not sure about the riding plans as yet as I'll leave that up to Barry Simpson (owner Sir Robert Ogden's racing manager) and I'll see who he has in mind.'

(C) PA Sport