'I told the owner he wasn't improving' - Acapella Bourgeois proves Mullins wrong

Acapella Bourgeois is on course for a crack at the Randox Grand National at Aintree after putting up a fine front-running performance to land back-to-back runnings of the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old led home a stable one-two in beating fellow Aintree hope Burrows Saint by four and three quarter lengths to give his trainer a sixth straight win in the race.

Bobbyjo Chase result, analysis and replay

In the hands of Danny Mullins, who also rode the 6-4 favourite to a wide-margin win in last year's contest, Acapella Bourgeois made all in a game of cat and mouse.

The winner bowled along in front and really enjoyed himself as Paul Townend stalked him for much of the way on Burrows Saint. However, Acapella Bourgeois found plenty, shaking off the brief challenge of his stablemate between the final two fences before going on again and staying on strongly from the last.

He was cut to 25-1 for the Grand National on April 10 by William Hill and Paddy Power.

Acapella Bourgeois came here with remarkably similar form figures to 12 months ago. This time, he arrived having finished second to Al Boum Photo at Tramore and fifth in last month's Thyestes at Gowran. Last year, he had also been runner-up at Tramore before finishing sixth at Gowran.

Willie Mullins said: “I told the owner before the race that he wasn't improving as an 11-year-old. Maybe I was wrong!

“I thought the younger horse might have a bit too much for him, so I'm surprised that he was able to do that the way he did. He seems to love Fairyhouse, but looking at that I'd imagine he will go for the National.

"He really enjoyed himself today compared to Gowran. I didn't imagine I would be going for another handicap with him at the age of 11, but it looks like we will.”

Burrows Saint, winner of the 2019 Irish Grand National, remains a general 14-1 shot for the National, although he is as big as 20-1 with bet365.

Despite being surprised that the winner beat him in such a manner, Mullins was not downhearted. He said: “He certainly goes to Aintree now. He needs to improve a little bit, but I'm happy that he has that bit of improvement in him.

“He loves Fairyhouse too but I'm not convinced that he handles that testing, dead ground. Once he gets good ground and livelier ground I think you'll see a different horse. I hope you will anyway.”

The Long Mile stayed on for third three lengths further back, and a couple of lengths in front of Tout Est Permis, with 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Anibale Fly a well-beaten last of the five runners.

Read more on Saturday's action

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Teahupoo cut to 10-1 for Triumph following smooth Fairyhouse success

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