Subjectivist taking direct path to Ascot Gold Cup

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Subjectivist will head straight to Royal Ascot as connections attempt to give the six-year-old the best possible chance of winning a second Gold Cup.

The son of Teofilo broke Stradivarius’ stranglehold on Ascot’s feature contest when storming to a five-length success in the Group One contest in 2021, but it was a long 618 days before he was seen on the track again having suffered a career-threatening injury.

He made his comeback in Saudi Arabia in February before moving on to Dubai last month in a bid to win a second Dubai Gold Cup and ran a pleasing race to finish third, beaten five lengths behind Broome.

Having come out of that race well, the six-time winner is enjoying a few easy weeks before being put through his paces again ahead of the Royal meeting, with trainer Charlie Johnston keen not to over-exert Dr Jim Walker’s fragile warrior away from the top staying contests.

“We’ve had a bit of debate about Sagaros and Yorkshire Cups and things, but the plan now for him, all being well and should we be able to get him there, is to go straight to Ascot,” said Johnston.

“With that in mind he’s just swimming and on the water walker at the moment and having an easy couple of weeks before we try to build him back up for the Gold Cup.

Joe Fanning riding Subjectivist celebrate winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2021
Joe Fanning riding Subjectivist celebrate winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2021 (Steven Paston/PA)

“We have a big, black cloud hanging over us every day now since his tendon injury and how long is a piece of string really, we don’t know how many bullets are left in the gun for us to fire and with that in mind we don’t really want to waste any in races like a Sagaro.

“He’s going to be campaigned in the three or four races that we really want to win and, touch wood, he has taken two races in a four-week window quite well.

“But once you’ve had a tendon injury, that is always something that is hanging over you to some degree and as a result we are only going to go into battle when it matters and the next time that will be, will be the Ascot Gold Cup.”

Conflated is Bowl-bound, with Elliott assembling strong Aintree squad

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Gordon Elliott is set for strong representation at Aintree’s Randox Grand National Festival, with Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated headlining the Cullentra House handler’s raiding party.

In what was widely recognised as a top-class renewal of the blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival, Conflated performed with real credit and only gave way to the impressive winner Galopin Des Champs and gallant runner-up Bravemansgame in the closing stages.

Now the nine-year-old will bid to go one better than his length second to Clan Des Obeaux on Merseyside 12 months ago when he lines up once again in the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl.

Gordon Elliott looks on as Conflated returns from the gallops during a visit to Gordon Elliott’s yard at Longwood in County Meath, Ireland
Gordon Elliott looks on as Conflated returns from the gallops during a visit to Gordon Elliott’s yard at Longwood in County Meath, Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

“The way it has fallen, and with Willie (Mullins) being very strong at Punchestown, we will send quite a few over to Aintree,” explained Elliott.

“Conflated is going to go for the Bowl, he’s in good form and ran very well in the Gold Cup. We’re looking forward to running him.”

Elliott will also hold leading claims in some of the feature races over timber with Stayers’ Hurdle one-three Sire Du Berlais and Teahupoo set to take their place in the Jrl Group Liverpool Hurdle, while Champion Hurdle third Zanahiyr will have another crack at the all-conquering Constitution Hill in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

“Sire Du Berlais and Teahupoo will both run in the three-mile hurdle,” said Elliott.

“Sire Du Berlais turns up once or twice a year and he’s a horse of a lifetime. We are very proud of him.

Zanahiyr could take on Constitution Hill in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle
Zanahiyr could take on Constitution Hill in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle (PA)

“Zanahiyr could run in the two-and-a-half-mile race. He seems to have come out of Cheltenham very well. He seems to enjoy taking his time a little bit, so we’re looking forward to running him.”

Gerri Colombe headed to Prestbury Park as many people’s idea of a banker, but failed to reel in The Real Whacker to be denied a short head in the Brown Advisory.

He will now have the chance to put the record straight in the Air Charter Services Mildmay Novices’ Chase that opens Friday’s action.

“Gerri Colombe is going to run in the three-mile novice chase,” added Elliott.

“He will have an entry in Punchestown as well, but we would just be a little bit nervous that the ground could dry up a little bit before then. It’s not that he needs softer ground, but I think he could be a lot more effective with a bit of dig.”

Elliott will also be represented in all four of the Grade One novice events over hurdles throughout the three days, while he will be mob-handed in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race that brings the meeting to a close on Grand National day.

Naas winner Irish Point will be on Gordon Elliott's Aintree teamsheet
Naas winner Irish Point will be on Gordon Elliott’s Aintree teamsheet (PA)

“I think I’ll run Found A Fifty in the two-mile Grade One (Top Novices’ Hurdle),” said Elliott.

“He’s in good form and hasn’t done an awful lot wrong. We think he’s a good horse and one we are really excited about going chasing with next year.

“Irish Point will go for two-and-a-half-mile Grade One (Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle). He didn’t do much wrong the last day and stayed galloping all the way to the line.

“Absolute Notions will go for the three-mile novice (Cavani Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle). We’ve kept him fresh, but I suppose if the ground ended up very soft we might not run him. We could also run Landrake and maybe Cool Survivor.

“Jazzy Matty will go for the juvenile (Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle), he won the Boodles and is in great form, while I’ll probably have three or four in the bumper – King Of Kingsfield, Samui and maybe the horse that won in Leopardstown, Pour Les Filles.

Elliott keen on ‘one last hurrah’ at Aintree for Russell with Galvin

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Gordon Elliott would love to give Davy Russell the chance of a fitting finale to his career at Aintree, with the ride on Galvin in the Randox Grand National reserved for the veteran jockey should he opt to take it.

Russell had retired from the weighing room in December, but answered an SOS from Cullentra House to return to the riding ranks when stable number one Jack Kennedy suffered a broken leg in January.

The 43-year-old was thrust straight into big-race action and scooped Grade One honours aboard Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival. But he endured a frustrating week at the Cheltenham Festival, failing to get on the scoreboard and standing himself down ahead of his intended ride on Conflated in them Gold Cup.

Elliott believes that would be the wrong way for Russell to bow out and feels Aintree is the perfect spot for the man who partnered Tiger Roll to back-to-back triumphs in the world’s most famous steeplechase to take his curtain call.

Davy Russell celebrates National glory with Tiger Roll
Davy Russell celebrates National glory with Tiger Roll (Mike Egerton/PA)

“If Galvin is there, it is Davy’s ride if he wants it,” said Elliott.

“I suppose it all depends on if Jack gets back, but Davy has been a big part of Cullentra since I started training and he’s coming to the end of his days. I wouldn’t like to see him finish up on the note he finished on at Cheltenham.

“He was sore after Cheltenham and he made the decision he didn’t feel 100 per cent right to ride in the Gold Cup. It was a big call, but that is the man he is – he would never do wrong by the horse and the owners.

“Obviously he was very sore and made the right decision not to ride on, but I would like to give him a better send-off than that. I don’t think there would be any better way for him to finish off than in the National.

Davy Russell celebrates with owner Ronnie Bartlett after winning the Savills Chase on board Galvin at Leopardstown
Davy Russell celebrates with owner Ronnie Bartlett after winning the Savills Chase on board Galvin at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)

“If Jack doesn’t come back there will be plenty of other rides for him at the meeting, but I’m not 100 per cent sure what he is going to do.

“I would like to see one last hurrah for him at Aintree. It’s him and that’s the type of jockey he is – you saw at the Dublin Racing Festival, up until he got the fall that he was riding like a man in his 20s.

“I think, for Davy Russell and for the whole of horse racing, he deserves a better send-off than if he finished at Cheltenham.”

As well as Kennedy and Russell’s injury absence, Elliott’s other regular pilots Jordan Gainford and Sam Ewing have also been on the sidelines, with the latter suffering a broken arm last month.

Trainer Gordon Elliott could run up to six in the Randox Grand National at Aintree
Trainer Gordon Elliott could run up to six in the Randox Grand National at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)

However, the trainer is not worrying about jockey plans for Aintree, where he could have six runners in the big race itself.

He said: “Jack Kennedy is number one jockey here and I would hope we have him back.

“If we don’t have him back, we will work from the top down and use the best available. That’s where we are.”

Elliott’s National squad is spearheaded by last year’s third Delta Work, while Galvin will also head to Merseyside with leading claims following his pleasing reappearance behind his stablemate in the cross-country at Cheltenham.

Delta Work at Gordon Elliott's yard on Wednesday morning
Delta Work at Gordon Elliott’s yard on Wednesday morning (PA)

“Delta Work was third in the race last year, he got a little bit far back early but ran a very good race,” continued Elliott.

“He was a little careful early but he’s in great form and I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s working very well.

“Galvin – the drier the ground, the better a chance he has. He will have come on a lot from Cheltenham, he’s in good form and I’m very happy with him.”

Others set to represent the three-time Grand National-winning handler in the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile contest include Punchestown Grand National Trial winner Coko Beach, the classy Fury Road, last year’s ninth Escaria Ten and Dunboyne, who was a staying-on third in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival.

Coko Beach in action during the Randox Grand National last year
Coko Beach in action during the Randox Grand National last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Coko ran very well in the race last year and finished eighth. He won the Grand National Trial at Punchestown,” said Elliott.

“For Fury Road it is the first time stepping up to this trip. He’s a Grade One horse and a classy horse. Again a bit of nice ground would suit him, but he’s in very, very good form.

“Escaria Ten travelled well for a long way last year but just didn’t get home. We’re going to drop him in and take our time with him, ride him a little bit different this year.

“Dunboyne gets in off 10st. He’s going to wear blinkers and stays really well. If he gets into a rhythm and doesn’t get too far back early, he will come home strong.”

Jack Kennedy back riding out with hopes of Aintree return

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Jack Kennedy returned to riding out at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House yard on Wednesday, but it is still unknown whether he will be fit for action at Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

The 23-year-old suffered a broken leg in a fall at Naas in January and has since missed key mounts at both the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham Festival.

Having missed out on a return at Prestbury Park last month, Kennedy rode two lots on Wednesday, but will still need to pass the racecourse doctor if he is to appear back on a racecourse in Liverpool – where the Elliott number one is likely to partner the likes of Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated in the Aintree Bowl and Delta Work in the Randox Grand National.

“It was my first day riding out this morning and I rode two lots,” said Kennedy at a press event ahead of Aintree.

Jack Kennedy, here aboard Delta Work, who would be his likely mount in the Randox Grand National
Jack Kennedy, here aboard Delta Work, who would be his likely mount in the Randox Grand National (PA)

“I’m getting there but the first day is always the hardest. I was happy enough but the first is always the hardest, so it should be getting easier from here on in hopefully.

“I’m just going to see how the riding out goes and ideally I would love to be riding in Aintree, but I won’t know until closer to the time.

“I’ve got eight or nine days, I’ve been cleared to ride out but I would need to be cleared to race ride, so fingers crossed it keeps going well.

“I still need to build it up and I’m doing plenty of physio and things, but hopefully once it keeps progressing the way it has been it shouldn’t be too much longer.”

Anamoe adds potential sprinkle of stardust to Lockinge

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Nine-time Australian Group One winner Anamoe is one of the star attractions among the 30 names in line to run in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next month.

Owned by Godolphin, he is trained by James Cummings and has won 14 of his 24 starts – including his last three, tasting success at Rosehill in the George Ryder Stakes most recently.

The Cox Plate hero will wave goodbye to his Aussie fans in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday where he will have the chance to replicate the achievements of Winx and Makybe Diva and win a seventh Group One of the season.

Afterwards his sights will be pointed towards Europe where the May 20 Group One could prove a stepping stone towards Royal Ascot.

Godolphin could also be represented in the one-mile event by dual Breeders’ Cup hero Modern Games, his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate Valiant Prince, Saeed bin Suroor’s Real World and Andre Fabre’s Tribalist – fresh from victory in the Prix Edmond Blanc.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s The Revenant was second in that Saint-Cloud event and is another possible French raider, while Aidan O’Brien’s Order Of Australia is the sole Ballydoyle representative.

Race sponsors Al Shaqab have the chance to keep hold of the prize-money when Richard Hannon bids for his third win in the race with Lusail, who was placed at both Royal Ascot and in the Prix Jean Prat last term.

Lusail, here winning the Gimcrack at York, will run in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury
Lusail, here winning the Gimcrack at York, will run in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (Nigel French/PA)

“I’ve been very happy with Lusail since he came back from Saudi Arabia,” said the trainer.

“He ran a good race out there but he clearly wants a mile now and the Lockinge, sponsored by Al Shaqab, makes it the ideal race to be his main target for the year.

“He may have a prep run before then but he is a horse that keeps himself pretty fit and Newbury is an ideal, uncomplicated track for him and hopefully he will make Al Shaqab proud and run a big race.

“The Lockinge is always a race we like to target, the prize-money is extremely good, and we are happy to go there if we have one good enough which he is.

“Having finished second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, he has proved himself several times.”

Other notables include the John and Thady Gosden-trained trio of Inspiral, Nashwa and Laurel, while last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs is another filly with the capabilities to get into the mix.

Homeless Songs returns to the fray at Leopardstown

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Last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs returns at Leopardstown on Wednesday where she lines up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes.

The Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old won her first two outings last season, claiming the 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at the Dublin track before moving on to the Curragh to scoop Classic honours with an impressive five-and-a-half-length success over subsequent Oaks champion Tuesday.

Things did not go quite to plan for the daughter of Frankel after that, with Homeless Songs well held in both the Matron Stakes and Sun Chariot at the latter end of the season and she now returns to begin her career at four with questions to answer, dropping back to Listed level.

Chief among the filly’s rivals is Joseph O’Brien’s Buckaroo, who was second in the Ballysax here last April before winning the Tetrarch Stakes and then finishing down the field in the Irish 2000 Guineas, while Paddy Twomey won this with Pearls Galore 12 months ago and looks for a repeat with stable newcomer Mea Domina – a Listed winner in France on her final start of 2022.

“She’s a new filly to the yard and we’re looking forward to running her,” said Twomey.

“We’re very happy with her. She looked nice and progressive last year and it looks to be a very nice race.”

Trainer Paddy Twomey is searching back-to-back victories in Leopardstown's rish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes
Trainer Paddy Twomey is searching back-to-back victories in Leopardstown’s rish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes (PA)

Ger Lyons’ Power Under Me won the Knockaire Stakes over course and distance when last sighted and bids for more Listed honours, while Adrian McGuinness is hoping race regular and stable stalwart Saltonstall can make it third time lucky having finished second to Lope Y Fernandez in 2021 and fourth in 2022.

“He’s ran in this race the last couple of years and has run very well,” said McGuinness. “He was fourth to Pearls Galore in it last year and second to Lope Y Fernandez two year’s ago.

“The ground will suit, he’s fit and has a run under his belt. He’s fairly sharp and we’re expecting a nice run. He drops out and we’re hoping he can pick up the pieces.

Saltonstall, here winning at Galway, is a regular in the rish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes
Saltonstall, here winning at Galway, is a regular in the rish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes (Niall Carson/PA)

“I don’t know what I’ll do when he retires. To have a horse like him, he’s a gem of a horse who always gives his all and when ‘Salty’ is right he’s been brilliant and has given us some great days.

“He’s just a brilliant horse to have, I’ve never had any problems with him, he just loves life and is a super horse.”

Helvic Dream (Noel Meade), Georgeville (Lyons) and Hotter Than Hades (Jack Davison) complete the line-up.

Dubai Mile could take in 2000 Guineas on the way to Epsom

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Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Dubai Mile has been added to the list of Derby entries, with trainer Charlie Johnston revealing he will tune up for a potential tilt at the Epsom Classic in either the Qipco 2000 Guineas or York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

Although beaten on debut as a juvenile, he won his next two starts in fine style before attempting to make all in the Royal Lodge over the Guineas track and trip, going down by half a length to Andrew Balding’s The Foxes.

That earned the son of Roaring Lion a shot at Group One glory in France and he thrived for the move up to 10 furlongs on that occasion, showing plenty of class and even more grit to hold off John and Thady Gosden’s Arrest by a head and highlight his Classic claims for the forthcoming campaign.

With connections opting to pay the £9,000 stake to add Dubai Mile to the race at the second entry stage, that campaign could be centred around a Derby bid as Johnston dreams of the colt becoming a standard-bearer for the yard during his first season as the sole licence holder at Kingsley Park.

“Any two-year-old that can win at Group One level leaves you dreaming over the winter about what they could achieve during their three-year-old campaign,” said Johnston.

“He’s obviously going to be a flagship horse for us this year and one we’re going to have realistic Classic ambitions with, so we’re very much looking forward to him.

Trainer Charlie Johnston has high hopes for Dubai Mile this season
Trainer Charlie Johnston has high hopes for Dubai Mile this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

“You need these horses to compete at the highest level to put you in people’s eyes and minds going forward and he’s a big flagship horse that we need and want a big year from – hopefully he can deliver.”

Despite Dubai Mile’s finest hour coming over 10 furlongs and holding an entry for the Dante on May 18, a return to the Rowley Mile and a crack at Newmarket’s opening Classic of the summer appears the preferred option of the colt’s owner Ahmad Al Shaikh.

“The Guineas is still on the table and Ahmad is quite keen for him to go there,” continued Johnston.

“For all the Dante is a significant race and the preeminent Derby trial, this horse has already won a Group One so his CV would be enhanced more by a placed effort in the Guineas than winning the Dante.

“He was only just touched off in the Royal Lodge over the Guineas course and distance and although I’m pretty certain he’s going to come into his own over middle-distances this year, I wouldn’t rule out his prep race being in the Guineas.

“They are the best two Derby trials and it will be one of the two races for him. Being a vanquished horse in the Guineas can often be the best Derby trial you can run.”

All systems go for Corach Rambler, as Russell bids for more National acclaim

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Lucinda Russell could not be happier with Randox Grand National favourite Corach Rambler as the big day draws ever nearer.

The nine-year-old became just the fourth horse in history to win the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival more than once, and he will head to Aintree officially 10lb ‘well-in’.

Russell stated at the beginning of the season this campaign revolved around two races and with the first box ticked, she is building him up for the second assignment with the help of partner and assistant, former champion jockey Peter Scudamore.

“The prep is going really well. He ran at Cheltenham in the middle of March and since then it was a matter of letting him recover,” said Russell.

Peter Scudamore (left) and Lucinda Russell, with Corach Rambler
Peter Scudamore (left) and Lucinda Russell, with Corach Rambler (Andrew Milligan/PA)

“That was the first thing and then since it has been sort of winding him up again to Aintree.

“He is a very straightforward horse to deal with in one way, but in another way, Scu rides him every day so I don’t have total control over what work he does.

“But he is just coming to himself, he looks very fit and I am very pleased with his weight and stuff and it is just a case of getting him in the right mind space now.”

Russell, of course, has already entered the history books by providing Scotland with just its second win in the great race when One For Arthur galloped to success in 2017.

He died recently at the age of 14 after suffering colic, and the poignancy of that is not lost on the Kinross-based trainer.

Corach Rambler inhabits the same box One For Arthur used to
Corach Rambler inhabits the same box One For Arthur used to (Andrew Milligan/PA)

“Yes, I mean it is poignant, I always say that the wins are not just for the horse’s own glory, but it is for everyone else around them. It would be lovely,” she said.

“I know that the Two Golf Widows who owned One For Arthur, they are very excited again about us having a runner in the National.

“It is just lovely, the support that we have from everyone. Arthur was funny, he really did become family and his owners are very good friends of ours now.

“Corach already is family because Scu rides him all the time, but it is nice and it means so much to us.”

Famously some of the biggest names in racing have never won the Grand National and Russell has not even dared to think about winning it twice.

Lucinda Russell holding the Ultima trophy, which Corach Rambler won for a second time last month
Lucinda Russell holding the Ultima trophy, which Corach Rambler won for a second time last month (Andrew Milligan/PA)

She said: “Gosh, I haven’t really thought about it.

“I always said it wouldn’t change my life (winning the National) but it did change my life to start with.

“Crikey, can it change my life again? I don’t know.

“But it is just nice because I feel that I am the figurehead but actually it is the people who sort of do it all. There is a lot of people behind so it is not really just for me, it is for everyone else.”

Russell is more than doing her bit to keep racing in Scotland on the map, which given that means competing against the likes of Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson on a regular basis is no mean feat.

“For this race, there is a lot of Irish horses in it. We have to do it all the time,” said Russell.

Lucinda Russell walks Corach Rambler through her yard
Lucinda Russell walks Corach Rambler through her yard (Andrew Milligan/PA)

“When you get to the top level you are competing against top-level horses, where they get trained doesn’t make much of a difference to me.

“It is exciting taking them on but it is not overwhelming.

“Arthur really put us on the map when he won, and I think that got the interest in racing from people (in Scotland) who weren’t normally interested in the racing.

“I think that if Corach was to win it this year, it would certainly increase the attention we are getting in Scottish racing.”

One constant at the yard since One For Arthur’s success has been jockey Derek Fox, and he will once again take the reins with Russell full pf praise for his main attributes.

Derek Fox celebrates after winning the Ultima for a second time on Corach Rambler
Derek Fox celebrates after winning the Ultima for a second time on Corach Rambler (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He is just a fantastic person. He works here in the yard, he is in here every day,” she said.

“He knows the horses inside out. He is a tremendous horseman. He really gets the horses.

“He is very strong, very fit and he has got a racing brain that during the race he doesn’t panic. I think for races like the National and races at the top level you have to have someone who doesn’t see the red mist and Derek is supremely calm about things. It is great”.

Russell sadly lost her father this year, a main driving force behind her early days as a trainer.

“I always say about dad that I think everything we do is a tribute to him,” she said.

“When he was alive it was a tribute to him.

“He has passed away now but I think he would be proud of what we do and of course there is a lot of emotion to it. Really just the emotion of losing dad is overwhelming but the horses keep me pretty well grounded about things.”

Kentucky Derby not yet out of the question for Brave Emperor

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Connections of Brave Emperor have still not totally discounted heading Stateside for the Kentucky Derby.

The Archie Watson-trained gelding won at Kempton to earn valuable points towards qualifying for the ‘Run for the Roses’ at Churchill Downs and was second in a £100,000 race at Chelmsford on Saturday evening which also carried points.

While his syndicate of owners are excited about the possibility of the challenge, the unsubsidised cost of getting to America and back is something of a stumbling block.

Tom Palin, who manages the Middleham Park Racing syndicate which owns Brave Emperor, said: “We’re still in discussions with the owners, it’s not going to be cheap. Probably about £120/130,000 to get there and back on our own which will burn through all of his prize-money and then some.

“We just need to have a grown up conversation with the owners. They provide incentives to travel to the Breeders’ Cup, but maybe the Kentucky Derby is such a standalone event they feel they don’t need to as everyone wants to run in it.

“He’s brave, he grinds and he gallops. I was really taken with how he got his elbows out and got down and dirty at Chelmsford as it was a messy race.

“You never know how they will transfer their form to dirt or adapt to American racing, but he does have a lot of the right credentials. You’d go there hopeful he could handle it but definitely not confident.

“It’s something we would love to do, but it’s just if we can make sense of the numbers. Then again, horse racing is not really an industry where one should try and make too much sense of it.”

Connell sets sights on Irish National with Espanito Bello

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Espanito Bello has the chance to cap a fine season for trainer Barry Connell in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.

While Connell has enjoyed plenty of high-profile victories as an owner, he is in just his third season with a licence, enjoying a halcyon campaign from his operation in Nurney, Kildare.

Marine Nationale and Good Land have both provided the former hedge fund manager with Grade One success this season, while the former gave him his first Cheltenham Festival winner as a member of the training ranks when downing Facile Vega with ease in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Now Connell is targeting the feature of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival with Espanito Bello – who is as short as 12-1 with Paddy Power for the three-mile-five-furlong contest following his romp in the recent Leinster National.

“The plan is to run and the only way we wouldn’t run is if the ground dried up too much. But there looks to be rain due tomorrow and a bit more again at the weekend,” said the trainer.

“He’s in good shape and on the form of his run in Naas where he was back to his very best, we’re hoping he will acquit himself really well.

Trainer Barry Connell bids for Irish Grand National success at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday
Trainer Barry Connell bids for Irish Grand National success at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Easter is early this year and he did run in the race once before. That was on good ground and he wasn’t in as good form as he is now.”

The nine-year-old was raised 11lb to a mark of 151 following his seven-and-a-half-length stroll at Naas, but Connell believes the handicapper has been fair in his assessment and his charge heads to Fairyhouse in great shape.

“He’s gone up 11lb, but he was on 145 during his novice season,” explained the handler.

“In his beginners’ (chase) he beat Coko Beach by 18 lengths at Naas and then finished second in a Grade Two at Navan behind Coko Beach having made a mistake at the last. So he was 145 and he was dropped to 140. I suppose he is 6lb higher now than he was in his novice season and you would expect that with a bit of experience and age, so I think the weight allocation is fair.

“He won easily the last day and you can’t argue with the penalty he got. I think Michael (O’Sullivan, jockey) still has five (winners) left on his 5lb claim, so he is still in with a nice weight.

“I know the last few years bottom weights have been favourite, but you do get the likes of Burrows Saint and Our Duke going there and winning it and our guy is going there in great shape physically and mentally, and if he gets his ground I think he will run his race.

“We’ve only been training two and a half seasons and this is the first full season we’ve had. We’ve had three Grade One winners, a Grade Three and a Cheltenham Festival winner – if we don’t train another winner this season it will still have been a great season.”