Tag Archive for: Grand National

Iwilldoit team admit defeat in race to make National line-up

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One of the leading British-based contenders in the ante-post market for the Randox Grand National, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit, will miss the deadline for qualification and as a result not run at Aintree.

The 10-year-old won the Welsh National at Chepstow in December 2021, after which he was off for 383 days before returning to land the Classic Chase at Warwick last month. But in total he has only had five races over fences – winning four.

As the rules stipulate runners in the National must have had six races over fences by February 19, Iwilldoit has run out of time to qualify.

Thomas and owners Diamond Racing had hoped to get his final run in this weekend’s Betfair Denman Chase, but the prevailing dry spell means the ground at Newbury is riding good.

As a result his connections have taken a pull on this season’s showpiece and put the horse’s welfare first.

Diamond Racing’s director of bloodstock and racing Chris Morgan wrote on www.diamondracing.co.uk: “Iwilldoit will not be taking on the Grand National this season.

“In order to qualify for the Grand National the last opportunity for him to run was in the Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday but sadly the ground is far from suitable.

“The ground is currently good with no rain forecast and with Iwilldoit coming back into training later than normal this season due to an issue after he won the Welsh Grand National, the decision was made by Sam Thomas and ourselves not to run him on unsuitable ground.

“The welfare of our horses is always at the forefront of what we do.”

National tide will turn at some point, says Nicholls

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Paul Nicholls believes the lack of entries by British-based trainers in this year’s Randox Grand National is cyclical and that within a few seasons the pendulum may well swing back.

Threeunderthrufive is Nicholls’ sole entry for the Aintree spectacular, as just 31 of 85 initial entries hailed from the home-based team.

Nicholls stated his Ditcheat yard is currently stacked with young talent, backed up by Grade One winners Hermes Allen and Tahmuras, rather than staying chasers. But in the future he may be in a position to enter plenty more.

“I only had one horse I entered that was suitable, in the future I may have four or five, it just depends on your team of horses,” he said.

Threeunderthrufive is Nicholls' only Grand National entry
Threeunderthrufive is Nicholls’ only Grand National entry (Tim Goode/PA)

“I’m in a bit of a situation at the moment where I’ve a lot of young horses coming through and they aren’t going to be running in a National.

“Sometimes people look into things too much and it just goes round in circles a little bit. You only need one good horse to win the race from the yard’s point of view, but if you haven’t got anything suitable at the time then you can’t invent them – it’s just the way it is at the moment.

“There’s no good looking into things too much, it’s just the way it is at the moment and it will soon come back round.

“I’d love to have four or five entered, we just don’t have the right horse at the right time but I’m sure we will have in the future.”

Neptune Collonges (left) pipped Sunnyhillboy in the 2012 Grand National
Neptune Collonges (left) pipped Sunnyhillboy in the 2012 Grand National (David Davies/PA)

He went on: “You can run quality horses in it. The best horse I ever ran in it, Neptune Collonges, won the race. He was probably one of the highest rated to win it.

“I wouldn’t worry. I could probably have entered Frodon but he’s not going to win it off the mark he has and he’s not the biggest in the world so I wouldn’t want to run him as I didn’t think he was suitable.

“Neptune was the perfect horse, he had a high rating, was class and stayed forever. If you haven’t got the right horse there’s no point doing it.”

Le Milos leading National charge for Skelton – and could be joined by Ashtown Lad

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Dan Skelton could be set for a two-pronged assault on the Randox Grand National, with both Le Milos and Ashtown Lad catching the eye among the 85 entries for the April 15 contest.

Only 31 of the possible runners for the Merseyside marathon hail from British trainers, but both of the Lodge Hill contenders strike as live candidates for the Aintree showpiece judged on their exploits before Christmas when landing the Coral Gold Cup and Becher Chase respectively.

The duo are now now being prepared to run again over the next few weeks, with Le Milos set to complete his National preparation in Kelso’s Premier Chase – a race which has been used by the likes of Ballabriggs and Many Clouds to tune up for Aintree in the past – while Ashtown Lad will head to Ascot on February 18 before a final decision on his participation is made.

“They are both really well and we’ve had no problems at all,” said Skelton.

Le Milos and jockey Harry Skelton (centre) coming home to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury
Le Milos and jockey Harry Skelton (centre) coming home to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (John Walton/PA)

“Le Milos goes to Kelso on March 4 for the Premier Chase and Ashtown Lad hopefully runs next at Ascot in the Swinley Handicap Chase, and then we will have a think about what we do with him.

“Le Milos will go to Kelso and then straight to the Grand National. I’m very happy with him.

“Ashtown Lad is proven over the fences, but there is a question mark over the trip. The plan is to run him next Saturday and then have a proper think about it.”

The Irish have dominated the Grand National in recent years winning the last four and five of the last six runnings. They are responsible for almost two thirds of the initial entries this time around with entries from the home team thin on the ground.

However, the man responsible for two of the better-fancied British runners believes the lack of numbers could be due to trainers having to be more selective with their entries.

“We’ve got two nice entries,” explained Skelton. “The Grand National is unique, you have to stay the trip number one and you have to be appropriate for the fences.

“It costs £950 at the first stage and I think the down on numbers entry is reflective of the whole situation at the moment. People have to be responsible with their entries, you can’t just fire anything in. Perhaps people are just being a bit more delicate with their entries.”

Walsh content with Any Second Now’s Leopardstown effort

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Any Second Now continued his preparation for the Randox Grand National with trainer Ted Walsh left neither “squealing or disappointed” by his run in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.

The JP McManus-owned 11-year-old was beaten 15 lengths into fourth behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Any Second Now was favourite when runner-up to Noble Yeats in the Grand National at Aintree last April, having finished third to Minella Times in the same race in 2021.

The 11-year-old has shown plenty of spark this term, beginning with a fine runner-up effort to Saint Sam over an extended two miles and three furlongs over hurdles on his seasonal debut on New Year’s Eve before his effort at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Walsh said: “He ran OK. I expected him to run as well as he ran – he ran to his rating.

“Look at the horses around him. He is a 162-rated horse. The horse that was third (Fury Road) was 158, the runner-up (Stattler) was 163, so he ran OK. He didn’t do anything I didn’t expect him to do.”

Any Second Now stayed on nicely despite being hampered by a faller at the second-last fence and will head to the Liverpool track in fine fettle. He is currently a general 16-1 second favourite for the National behind Noble Yeats.

Walsh dismissed the idea the run will have much effect on his weight for the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile Aintree spectacular, however.

“The handicapper won’t do anything,” he said. “The weight he has, he has. He is 162.

“The English handicapper might think he is a better horse around Liverpool and give him 2lb more, he might say he’s 11 years of age, so give him 2lb less, but that is all you are going to be talking about – a pound or two here or there. It is what it is.

“He’s in good nick and he’s happy. If he ran any worse than that, you’d be disappointed.

“The run was all right. I wasn’t coming away from Leopardstown squealing, but I wasn’t disappointed.

“I’d have been delighted altogether had he split the winner and the second. I’m a realist. I’m not an optimist or a pessimist – I’ve been at the game far too long for that.”

Thomson eyeing Eider prep for National hope Hill Sixteen

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Sandy Thomson is plotting a potential route to the Randox Grand National via the Eider Chase with Hill Sixteen.

The tough staying chaser has not run since finishing seventh to Ashtown Lad in the Becher Chase at Aintree in early December.

His Berwickshire handler saw the 10-year-old drop 2lb in the handicap to a mark of 143, which should be a high enough mark to see Court Cave gelding slip into the National off a low weight.

Thomson is keen to protect that mark and said: “Obviously, we want to go for the National, so on 143, we couldn’t really run him again.

“We thought he would go for the Grand National Trial, but this year it so happens that the Grand National Trial is before the National weights are published.

“So it will either be the Eider (at Newcastle on February 25) – but if it was really soft you might not want to give him a really hard race in that – or it will be the Premier Chase at Kelso (March 4).”

Hill Sixteen was runner-up to Snow Leopardess in the Becher Chase, a recognised National trial, in December 2021, so has plenty of experience over the unique spruce-topped fences.

However, Thomson insists that any thoughts of a run in the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile April 15 spectacular will be dependent on plenty of rain.

“It’s got to be wet enough for him,” said Thomson. “The way these (dry) Aprils have been going recently, we are bound to get a wet one soon.”

Russell considering Rambler’s route to Aintree

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Lucinda Russell is still to decide which route Corach Rambler will take to the Randox Grand National on April 15.

Given a peach of a ride from Derek Fox when swooping late to snatch the Ultima Handicap Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, the son of Jeremy was again doing his best work late when finishing fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November – and Russell believes his running style makes him the perfect candidate for the Merseyside marathon she won in 2017 with One For Arthur.

The nine-year-old featured amongst the list of entries for the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park on Saturday and although still a possible for that race if the stable’s Gold Cup hope Ahoy Senor is rerouted to Newbury, the Kinross handler is tempted to wait until the weights for the Aintree showpiece are finalised before breaking cover.

Options include Haydock’s Grand National Trial on February 18 and closer to home in the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso on March 4 – a race used in the past by the likes of Ballabriggs, Cloth Cap and Many Clouds en route to Aintree.

“Corach Rambler is in fantastic form, said Russell. “You know that Scu (Peter Scudamore) rides him all the time and he gets off and says how tired he is.

“He’s a lovely horse and he wins through his personality as much as his ability. He’s a horse that loves coming from off the pace in a big handicap as we saw in the Ultima and for that reason we’re quite keen to go to Aintree for the Grand National.

“We have to decide how we get there and we have the option of the Grand National Trial at Haydock, we have the option of the Premier Chase at Kelso.

“We were going to go to the Fleur De Lys (at Lingfield) but as soon as I saw all the inspections, I pulled the plug on that.

“I don’t want him to go up too much in the handicap as I think he’s off quite a nice weight for Aintree, so it’s just a question of how we get him there.”

Derek Fox and connections of Corach Rambler celebrate winning the Ultima Handicap Chase during day one of the Cheltenham Festival last year
Derek Fox and connections of Corach Rambler celebrate winning the Ultima Handicap Chase during day one of the Cheltenham Festival last year (Nigel French/PA)

She continued: “He’s in at Cheltenham and there’s probably a question mark on him running there. That said, if the race cut up and Ahoy Senor went to Newbury, it leaves the way open for Corach and although he’s only run there twice, he’s unbeaten round Cheltenham and we know he likes the track.

“It could be that we do Cheltenham then Kelso. I would quite like to support the Kelso race and the timing is quite nice with it being five weeks before the Grand National.”

Iwilldoit team considering qualifying options for Aintree hope

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Iwilldoit could try to book his Randox Grand National ticket by running at Newbury or Ascot next month.

Sam Thomas’ 10-year-old defied a 383-day layoff when galloping to an impressive success in the Classic Chase at Warwick – a performance that saw him cut to as short as 16-1 for the Aintree showpiece on April 15.

However, the main stumbling block post-race appeared to be the fact Iwilldoit is not yet qualified for the Merseyside marathon – and with time at a premium before the February 19 deadline to have run in at least six races over fences, Thomas was far from certain that is where he would head in the spring.

Iwilldoit’s pilot Stan Sheppard reports the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on February 11 or the Betfair Ascot Chase at Ascot a week later on February 18 are being considered in order to meet the qualification criteria.

“I believe Aintree is now the plan and that there are two races in mind, the Denman Chase over three miles at Newbury and the Ascot Chase over two-miles-five,” said Sheppard.

“He literally only needs to get around in either race as he has to have six runs over fences to qualify for the Grand National.”

Jockey Stan Sheppard and trainer Sam Thomas celebrate after Iwilldoit won The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase during at Warwick
Jockey Stan Sheppard and trainer Sam Thomas celebrate after Iwilldoit won The Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase during at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

Sheppard has never ridden in a Grand National, but believes his likely mount is more than capable of handling the unique test the famous spruce provides.

He added: “I definitely think he would be fine over those fences. It was only his fifth run over fences on Saturday and he jumped better than he probably did both times I rode him at Chepstow.

“I also don’t think he needs particularly heavy ground. As long as it is not quick in the Grand National, he will be fine.”

Tizzard hoping Breakaway can make National mark

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Joe Tizzard feels The Big Breakaway has all the attributes to make his mark in the Randox Grand National on April 15.

A talented operator over both hurdles and fences in his formative years, the eight-year-old has shown a real thirst for marathon tests this term, going close in a pair of stamina-sapping affairs.

Denied by a head on reappearance at Haydock, he then produced a fine weight-carrying display to follow The Two Amigos home for a silver medal in the Welsh Grand National – the 26lb he was conceding to the winner ultimately taking its toll in the closing stages.

However, those displays advertised the son of Getaway’s suitability for Aintree’s spring showpiece and the Venn Farm handler is eyeing a run in Haydock’s Grand National Trial on February 18 to tee up a shot at the big race, for which he is a best-priced 33-1.

“He’s come out of the Welsh National really well,” said Tizzard. “He’ll get an entry for the Grand National and we might take him up to Haydock for the National Trial and then straight to Liverpool.

“I think the handicapper knows where he is with him, but that’s the plan anyway.

“He just gallops and stays and we’ve always held him in high regard. I’m sure there is a big one in him. You need a bit of luck in a National still, but he should be able to travel away and jump and then he should hopefully be thereabouts.”

Reflecting on The Big Breakaway’s Chepstow efforts, Tizzard was full of praise for his charge and added: “He ran an absolute blinder, he ran really, really well.

“He had a lot of weight, but he just kept galloping and he jumped great.

“He just bumped into a good horse at the bottom of the weights, but he ran well and he’s had a great season so far – just without getting his head in front.”

Hanlon ‘couldn’t be happier’ with stable star Hewick

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Shark Hanlon is dreaming of huge prizes in the spring with his stable star Hewick.

Hewick was one of the sport’s most popular success stories last year, winning the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and the Galway Plate before exiting at the final fence when looking poised to land the Kerry National.

He then headed out to Far Hills in New Jersey to win the American Grand National.

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March has long been booked in as the target for his seasonal return – but Hanlon also explained of equal importance will be a bid for the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

“Without a doubt he’ll go for the National, that’s my plan,” Hanlon said.

“I’m going to give him no run before the Gold Cup and the Gold Cup will put him right for the National.

Shark Hanlon's Hewick
Shark Hanlon’s Hewick (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m not saying he’s not going to be trained for the Gold Cup, but he’s a summer horse and he had a busy enough year last year and he wants good ground.

“He’ll go straight for the Gold Cup and the National then.”

Hewick is likely to find himself near the top of the weights at Aintree, but Hanlon notes that his weight-carrying Kerry National run was scuppered by a fall rather than by the horse folding under the 11st 12lbs burden he was allocated.

He said: “I don’t think weight bothers the horse, you go back to the Kerry National and everyone said he had no chance because he was giving a stone, a stone and a half to everything.

“He was unlucky, he fell and if it wasn’t for that he would have won. I’m not worried about weight.”

Hewick winning the Galway Plate
Hewick winning the Galway Plate (Niall Carson/PA)

Hanlon is similarly unconcerned by the step up in trip that the National represents as he feels the horse will only improve when tasked with running over a longer distance.

“The best run he had last year was the bet365 and that’s three and a half miles,” he said.

“The further he goes, the better, he’s a great cruising speed and he doesn’t stop.”

Hewick has done little other than improve throughout his career so far, but Hanlon – who will also run recent acquisition Cape Gentleman in the National – believes there is more to come and that the gelding returned from America in better condition than ever.

“We left him in America for 17 or 18 days because the weather over there was beautiful, he was out in the field every day and back in at night,” he said.

Hewick with connections at Sandown
Hewick with connections at Sandown (Nigel French/PA)

“When he came home to me he was 40 kilos heavier than he was going over there, he’s definitely come back the strongest he’s ever been.

“I couldn’t be happier, he’s been ridden out the last 10 days at home and I think he’s after improving.

“If he improves seven or eight pounds, he’s entitled to be in the Gold Cup and he’s entitled to be in the Grand National – that’s the way I’m looking at it.”

National hero Noble Yeats being aimed at famous big-race double

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Emmet Mullins has an eye on a famous Gold Cup-Grand National double with reigning Aintree hero Noble Yeats.

Still only an eight-year-old, the bay may have been pulled up on his seasonal debut at Auteuil in October, but convincing wins in Wexford’s Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase and in particular Aintree’s Many Clouds Chase have put him in the frame for the Boodles Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

A visit to Lingfield will come first as Mullins is targeting the Fleur De Lys Chase at the Winter Million meeting on Sunday week – after which all roads will lead to Cheltenham for the sport’s blue riband event.

“All going well we’re heading for Lingfield, that’s the plan at the moment,” the County Carlow trainer said.

“Maybe half the reason we’re going to Lingfield is so we don’t have to take on Willie (Mullins) and Gordon (Elliott) here. We pick and choose our races I think fairly well and try to get the most out of them.

“The Many Clouds slotted in nicely and we’ll keep tipping away without showing our hand until the day that matters.”

A Randox Grand National defence is still in the works, however, with the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned gelding aiming to emulate Golden Miller and L’Escargot as the only two horses to have won both the Gold Cup and the Grand National.

Emmet Mullins points the way at his County Carlow base
Emmet Mullins points the way at his County Carlow base (The Jockey Club)

“The Gold Cup was on the radar for this year from the get-go. It was definitely on the agenda. We spoke with the Waley-Cohens and all going well he was going to be aimed for the Gold Cup and try to come back for the Grand National afterwards,” Mullins said.

“I definitely wouldn’t rule him out of the Gold Cup. It’s a stayer’s race and I can compare him to something like Hedgehunter, who won the Grand National and was second in a Gold Cup afterwards. I think he can be there or thereabouts.

“We’re still heading for the National and I suppose after our performance in the Many Clouds in Aintree, we won’t be looked after too well in the weights, but I think a horse like him grows in that scenario and I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t fancy our chances going back again.”

Noble Yeats crossing the line at Aintree
Noble Yeats crossing the line at Aintree (Steven Paston/PA)

He added: “I hadn’t realised until I heard over the weekend that only two horses have won the Gold Cup and the Grand National. I suppose it adds to it, but I’ll be blocking that out anyway.

“Lucky for me and the horse it won’t register with us!”