Tag Archive for: Randox Grand National

Hill Sixteen could give Ryan Mania the perfect National encore

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Ryan Mania knows all about Randox Grand National glory and he looks to an ally close to home as he bids to mark the 10th anniversary of his greatest triumph in the saddle with a second victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

In April 2013 a 23-year-old Mania strode into the Aintree paddock and climbed aboard the unfancied 66-1 shot Auroras Encore for what would be his first taste of the marathon four-and-a-quarter-mile contest.

Nine minutes and 12 seconds later the duo would return National heroes as Sue Smith’s seasoned handicapper gave the Scotsman the defining moment in his fledgling riding career, sauntering to a nine-length success.

Remarkably that remains Mania’s sole victory at the Merseyside venue from 50 rides at the track and although the memories are somewhat hazy a decade on, he will always fondly recall both Liverpool and the horse that shot him to prominence.

“It was a very very good day, but it’s like a distant memory now,” he said.

“You get little flashbacks every now and then, but it has felt like that ever since. It was a big thing to happen at the time, but it kind of goes by in a flash and it’s hard to imagine that it actually happened to you.

“It’s actually the only winner I’ve ever had at Aintree but every time I go there, it feels like a special place because of that one day.

“There is always a buzz and great atmosphere there and I love going back there whether it’s just for a normal meeting or the big meeting – it’s always a good place to go.”

He went on: “You can’t put it into words what Auroras Encore means to me, the horse is very very special to me and always will be – I even named my daughter after him.

Horse Racing – The 2013 John Smith’s Grand National – Grand National Day – Aintree Racecourse
Auroras Encore (right) ridden by Ryan Mania clears the Open Ditch before going on to win the Grand National (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

“To achieve something like that – the race maybe might be not the same these days – but even back when I won it, it really was a pure test of horse and rider and how you bonded with your horse and managed to navigate the course. We will always have that special connection.”

Plenty of water has crossed under the bridge in the ensuing 10 years and Mania’s struggles with the scales saw him looking for the weighing-room exit and heading into temporary retirement less than 18 months after his Aintree success in November 2014.

In fact the highs and lows of a jockey’s job description were on show less than 24 hours after his finest moment when a crushing fall at Hexham, followed by an unforgiving boot from a trailing horse, saw him airlifted to hospital with neck and back injuries.

“That was really strange, that seemed to highlight me as a person more than the National – it seemed to be in the press more than the win was,” recalled Mania. “It was definitely back down to earth with a thud.”

Having become the first Scottish jockey for 117 years to win the race in 2013, he will now attempt to help his step father-in-law, Sandy Thomson, become just the third Scottish trainer to taste Grand National glory aboard Hill Sixteen.

Hill Sixteen (left) fights out the finish of the 2021 Becher Chase at Aintree with Charlie Longsdon's Snow Leopardess (right)
Hill Sixteen (left) fights out the finish of the 2021 Becher Chase at Aintree with Charlie Longsdon’s Snow Leopardess (right) (Tim Goode/PA)

Although the Scottish Saltire is well-represented this year with race favourite Corach Rambler, Hill Sixteen has proven course form having finished second in the Becher Chase previously and the rider believes he could sneak into the frame given ease in the ground on Merseyside.

“It’s a very different race these days and it is looking more and more like you need a graded horse to win whereas back when I won it, he was just a very good handicapper,” continued Mania.

“It’s getting increasingly hard to find that horse that is going to win, but we’ll always be trying and Hill Sixteen – if it comes up soft we would have a realistic chance, but if it is dry we might struggle a little bit.

“Touch wood he’s very good round there and he’s your old-fashioned chaser. He’s big and he’s slow. He’s got a touch of class which is great, but he could really do with a touch of soft ground just to slow it all down. I think the problem with making the fences a lot smaller these days is the horses tend to go quicker and you need a horse with a lot of speed in the National now.”

Although his victory on Auroras Encore will be difficult to top, Mania thinks it would be “extra special” to enjoy Aintree glory in conjunction with his family, while the 34-year-old also tips his hat to the 10-year-old’s owner Jimmy Fyffe – the Dundee businessman who is a huge supporter of racing north of the border.

Hill Sixteen's trainer Sandy Thomson is Ryan Mania step father-in-law
Hill Sixteen’s trainer Sandy Thomson is Ryan Mania step father-in-law (John Giles/PA)

He continued: “It would be extra special to win it again because it’s not just Sandy, it’s my mother-in-law and my wife – it’s a family operation. Now with having kids the whole family aspect of it would make it pretty special. I’m not sure I can put into words what it would mean, but it would be huge anyway.

“It’s the owner’s dream as well. He is a great supporter of racing in general and he’s mad keen for a runner in the National so it’s great for him to go there with a horse that on paper has a chance and one I would genuinely fancy to go close if there was soft ground.”

Hill Sixteen is set to carry just 10st 2lb – 3lb lower than Mania’s lowest riding weight during the last 12 months.

He has employed the help of a dietician to help him in his quest and insists, far from having an issue with his weight, he simply refuses to use some of the age-old methods commonly used to strip back the pounds.

“The only time I would have problems with something like that is if a few days before a ride someone says ‘oh you’ve got this light weight to do’,” he explained.

“But because I’ve had plenty of time I’m able to get the weight down safely and remain strong and fit so I don’t foresee any issues.

“I’ve had a dietician before but I’m working with someone again now. Just someone on the end of a phone to make sure you are hitting your goals and having that accountably to make sure you are doing the right thing and keeping you on the right path.”

He continued: “I effectively don’t have a weight issue, I just refuse to sweat. I refuse to lie in the bath or go in the sauna and do too much sweating. So when they say you need to do light I’m happy to say ‘no, I’m not putting myself through that’. That’s the reason behind it and I try to do everything healthily and properly.

“I would have been one of them a few years ago, but you get a bit older and you learn something with age and experience and that’s one of them.”

Rambler been there and done that at Cheltenham – now for ‘ticket to greatness’ at Aintree

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The Randox Grand National is Corach Rambler’s “ticket to greatness” as Lucinda Russell goes in search of her second victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

The Kinross-based handler is well-versed in preparing one for Aintree. She sent out the late One For Arthur to become only the second-ever Scottish-trained winner of the race in 2017 and nursed her National hero back to his best while many were crying for retirement to finish sixth at the age of 10 in 2019.

Since One For Arthur so memorably landed a telling blow six years ago, only the Covid pandemic has been able to stop the Irish domination on Merseyside.

But now the Scottish handler has the perfect candidate to blunt the challenge from across the Irish Sea in Corach Rambler – the upwardly mobile eight-year-old who finds himself near the top of the betting for the big race following back-to-back victories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Corach Rambler ridden by Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival
Corach Rambler ridden by Derek Fox on their way to winning the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I definitely think he has the qualities,” said Russell, when assessing her charge’s chances.

“He’s got the bravery and he has the desire to race and the will to win. It’s up to him and Derek (Fox, jockey) now to see if they take to the fences and keep out of trouble throughout the race.

“I think we saw at Cheltenham that he stays very well and he seems to travel really well as well. Although he gets sort of shuffled back sometimes, I thought he travelled much better this year than he did last year. That certainly gives you hope for Aintree.

“The big question is will he take to the fences and that will be a bit different for him. But his jumping seems to be one of his assets, it’s not that he’s extra flamboyant or anything, he’s very neat in his jumping. Although he’s a bold horse, he’s not stupid about things and that bodes well for Aintree.”

Not only is the dual Ultima winner one of the stars of Russell’s rapidly-improving string, but he is also the apple of her partner Peter Scudamore’s eye.

Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell consider Corach Rambler part of the family
Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell consider Corach Rambler part of the family (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Corach Rambler and the former champion jockey are an inseparable pair and with the gelding very much part of the family at Arlary House, the bond between man and horse adds an extra layer of emotion ahead of their tilt at National glory.

“This is going to be very different to One For Arthur because this horse is very close to Scu which adds an extra angle to it,” continued Russell.

“Arthur was a horse we loved greatly, but it is a bit different when Corach is a horse that you half-invite into the house and is very close to us.

“That will add an extra anxiety to Scu’s day definitely, and I’m sure mine as well.

“That makes it even more special and for a horse like Corach, it’s his ticket to greatness. He’s won twice at the Festival and winning the same race two years running is quite an achievement – but it would be lovely for him if he could add a National.”

Cameron Sword, Thomas Kendall, Keith Garwood and Gary Scott, co-owners of Corach Rambler
Cameron Sword, Thomas Kendall, Keith Garwood and Gary Scott, co-owners of Corach Rambler (Andrew Milligan/PA)

It is easy to make comparisons between One For Arthur and this year’s contender. Both headed to Liverpool with a rating in the mid-to-late 140s and there are no secrets in the way big-race pilot Fox will navigate the 30 fences – biding his time and hoping to produce Corach Rambler deep into the contest as he did to great success previously.

However, the Kinross-based handler believes Corach Rambler’s ground versatility is one huge difference which could prove key on the big day.

She said: “I think we’re lucky with that, whereas Arthur was a horse who needed soft ground, and although he handled the good ground, it damaged him in the long run.

“I don’t feel that with Corach, I feel he can actually go on most grounds which is quite heartening ahead of a National.

“The ground isn’t a problem to him which is a big thing when you are taking on a race like the Grand National, because you never know what conditions are going to be like and you are only aiming at the one race – it’s not like you can stop and go somewhere else the next week.”

Corach Rambler will race off a mark 2lb lower than that of One For Arthur on Merseyside, but far from careful planning, it is just simple luck and a helping hand from the weather gods that sees the six-time winner line-up 10lb well-in following his win at Prestbury Park.

“It’s funny how it works out,” explained Russell. “After Newbury (Coral Gold Cup) we said we’d aim for the National and run one more time, and we kept entering him in all these races.

“We would have run him at Lingfield (on Winter Million weekend) if it had been on and it’s probably a good thing he didn’t run at Lingfield because he might have gone up in the handicap.

“In the end we look like total geniuses because he’s gone up 10lb after the weights have come out due to winning at Cheltenham.”

One of the endearing features of the Russell-Scudamore operation is the warmth shown by both trainer and assistant towards those housed at the yard.

And despite having total faith in their ability to prepare a horse for the big occasion, the strong connection they share with their inmates means there will be plenty of nerves when Corach Rambler faces the starter at 5.15pm on April 15.

“It would be slightly different (this year) because we have more confidence and we know how to produce the horses, knowing what it takes to win a National.” explained the handler.

“But there is still going to be the stress and anxiety of getting the luck in running. We get very close to these horses and in the last couple of years we seem to be getting even closer still because we ride them ourselves and are really hands on, it does add that extra element to it.”

A second National would be the perfect way for Russell to round off a stellar season which has seen her eclipse her previous best campaign numerically.

Grand National winner One For Arthur pictured with trainer Lucinda Russell at her yard in Kinross, Scotland
Grand National winner One For Arthur pictured with trainer Lucinda Russell at her yard in Kinross, Scotland (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Scooping the £500,000 first-prize would also take her past the £1million prize-money mark for the first time and shows the power the Aintree showpiece has to alter the course of a trainer’s journey.

“Arthur was a huge boost for the yard and shot us into people’s perceptions and we have been able to build on that,” said Russell.

“People say winning a National will change your life and I was kind of in denial, but it genuinely did. It does change your life and it changes your perception of yourself and boosts your own self confidence as much as other peoples.”

“The fact we have had a Cheltenham Festival winner this year and have some lovely novice hurdlers that we can’t wait to go over fences with next year, the future is looking very rosy, and if we can add a Grand National it would really show what a super season we have had.”

Minella Trump aiming to enhance McCain family’s National record

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The name McCain is synonymous with Aintree success and on the 50th anniversary of Red Rum’s first triumph on Merseyside, Donald McCain will bid for his second Randox Grand National victory with Minella Trump.

Ginger McCain won the world’s most famous steeplechase four times thanks to Red Rum’s hat-trick in the 1970s and Amberleigh House’s win in 2004, while the younger McCain added his name to the Grand National record books when saddling Ballabriggs to strike in 2011.

McCain has been missing from the Grand National start sheet since Across The Bay was pulled up in the race in 2015, but the Bankhouse handler could have found the ideal horse to end his National hiatus in style.

Minella Trump and Brian Hughes jump the last to go on and win the Lyn And Holly’s Big Birthday Celebrations Novices’ Chase at Catterick
Minella Trump and Brian Hughes jump the last to go on and win the Lyn And Holly’s Big Birthday Celebrations Novices’ Chase at Catterick (Tim Goode/PA)

Minella Trump returned from a 10-month absence over hurdles at Bangor recently, but has won eight of his last nine outings over the larger obstacles and will fulfil an ambition of the handler to provide long-standing owner Tim Leslie with a Grand National runner when lining up at Aintree as a 66-1 chance.

McCain said: “He’s in good nick and it was good to get the run into him the other day (at Bangor). It wasn’t ideal to run over timber but there was nowhere else to go unless you want to get involved at Cheltenham.

“I’d sooner he’d have run in a chase, but there wasn’t one so we went over hurdles. He did what we wanted him to do in that he’s had a good blow and he’s come back in good shape. We’re all happy.

“He’d done a lot of racing and won a lot of races, so we just gave him a good break. It’s not been that smooth in that we’d have liked to have got a run in when it was appropriate, but the ground was very heavy and there was nowhere to go, so we’ve had to do things slightly different – but it’s never smooth.

“He’s a great little horse and I don’t know if he’s going under the radar a bit, as he knows how to win. He’s probably not the most impressive when he’s doing it, but that’s probably the reason why he keeps managing to win, because he’s never doing it by too far. We’ve got a good racing weight in a big field handicap, so it’s a positive for sure.

“He’s beaten some smart horses, including the Grand National favourite Corach Rambler. He’s had a much smoother journey to Aintree and that sort of stuff and looks a thorough stayer and so on, but Minella Trump is in good nick and we’re looking forward to getting him there.”

Trainer Donald McCain is bidding for his second victory in the Randox Grand National
Trainer Donald McCain is bidding for his second victory in the Randox Grand National (Simon Marper/PA)

He continued: “We’re not there yet of course, but it would be very nice to have our first runner for a few years.

“It will be very special to have it for Tim Leslie, too, as it’s been an ambition of his since I started training to have a runner in the race. To get there and have a runner for him would be fantastic as he’s been a wonderful supporter.”

National hope Hill aiming to make it third-time lucky for Thomson

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Sandy Thomson will fly the flag for the Scottish Borders when Hill Sixteen lines up in the Randox Grand National.

The region has a rich racing heritage and the 10-year-old will be the Lambden-based trainer’s third runner in the race as he sneaks into the 40-strong field off a feather-weight of 10st 2lb.

Seeyouatmidnight was sent off at 11-1 as Thomson’s first runner in the Merseyside marathon in 2018 finishing a well-held 11th behind Tiger Roll, before Dingo Dollar rather unfortunately unshipped Ryan Mania when going well at the second Canal Turn 12 months ago.

Now it is the turn of Hill Sixteen, who was beaten a nose in a Becher Chase thriller by Snow Leopardess in 2021 and last seen finishing seventh in the most recent renewal of the renowned dress rehearsal over the famous green spruce.

Although his best form comes with ease in the ground, his two completions over the National fences have the Borders handler dreaming it will be a case of third-time lucky ahead of Hill Sixteen’s turn to face the Aintree starter.

“We’re really looking forward to it and it has been such a funny spring we really could get a soft-ground National,” said Thomson.

“We’ve seen in the Becher over the past two years it has got to be soft for him to stand a chance. We saw last year that on good ground the top-rated horses have a much better chance, but when it turns soft, they have a big weight to lump round.”

The Grand National has been an ever-present in Thomson’s life and from an early age he grew up listening to tales of Scotland’s favourite racehorse – the Reg Tweedie-trained Freddie.

Freddie was sent off favourite for both the 1965 and 1966 Grand Nationals, finishing runner-up on both occasions, while Thomson’s brush with Aintree history stretches back to 1939 silver medallist MacMoffatt who was bred by the handler’s grandfather.

Although John Leadbetter’s Rubstic in 1979 and Lucinda Russell’s 2017 scorer One For Arthur are the only two winners of the world’s most famous steeplechase from north of the border, Thomson is keen to uphold Scotland’s strong association with the race.

He continued: “I have lots of very early memories of the race and we had Freddie just up the road. I was too young then but grew up with the stories of Freddie and my grandfather bred MacMoffatt.

“John Leadbetter won it and the Borders have had a great association with the race, albeit mostly hard-luck stories rather than actually winning it. But we’ve always gone there and been competitive.

“Non-racing people can’t understand how difficult it is to get a horse qualified to run in the Grand National and hopefully this will be our third runner. Some yards have hardly had a runner in the race. It’s a great occasion to be part of.”

Horse Racing – The 2013 John Smith’s Grand National – Grand National Day – Aintree Racecourse
Ryan Mania celebrates on Auroras Encore after winning the Grand National in 2013 (David Davies/PA)

If Hill Sixteen were to march home in front on April 15, it would be an extra-special moment for Thomson with stepson-in-law Ryan Mania set to do the steering.

Mania won the National on Auroras Encore in 2013 and having retired from the saddle in 2014, spent his years away from the weighing room serving as assistant for Thomson’s Lambden Racing operation before returning to the riding ranks with renewed vigour in 2019.

“Ryan’s record round the fences is very good,” continued Thomson. “He was unlucky last year with his saddle slipping round Canal Turn. That can happen to anyone in a race like that.

“The race has changed hugely over the last four or five years. Ryan said after riding in it last year that it’s such a different race now to what is was when he won on Aurora’s Encore.”

Vaughan thrilled as Eva’s Oskar makes National cut

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Trainer Tim Vaughan was relieved and delighted in equal measure after Eva’s Oskar was confirmed as the 40th horse in the field following the latest scratchings deadline for the Randox Grand National.

The nine-year-old, who won a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham earlier in the season, was previously further down the order of entry for the Aintree spectacular, but is now guaranteed a starting berth after a total of 16 horses were taken out.

The defectors include Shark Hanlon’s joint top-weight Hewick and Gordon Elliott’s Cheltenham Gold Cup third Conflated, with both absences anticipated. Becher Chase winner Ashtown Lad has also been removed by Dan Skelton, as has the Willie Mullins-trained Franco De Port.

Vaughan said: “We definitely want to run – we’re eager beavers!

“What’s lovely is we’ve actually got in. A lad who works for me was counting them down and we were thinking we might be 41st and you’re still lingering then until the day.

“It’s quite nice as it feels like we can relax now, enjoy the process and just hope that he takes to the fences well on the day.”

Since his Cheltenham success of early December, Eva’s Oskar has finished sixth at Sandown and fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

The grey is a 100-1 shot to claim Grand National glory with William Hill, but Vaughan insists he is not just there to make up the numbers.

Trainer Tim Vaughan (right) at Cheltenham
Trainer Tim Vaughan (right) at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

“We’ve been planning to go there for some time and he seems in good shape. We can make a few fences at home now with the spruce on,” the Welsh trainer added.

“We didn’t want to do that until we knew where we were at. We thought today would sort the wheat from the chaff in terms of who definitely wanted to run and we’re excited to be in there.

“Of course I’m not naive enough to think we’re going there as a 10-1 chance, but as outsiders go he ticks a lot of boxes in that he’s good enough to win a £70,000 premier handicap at Cheltenham and he’s finished fourth in the Eider – we think he can do himself justice.

“It’s obviously a massive step up in class and it’s a great race with all the jazz that goes with it, but you’ve got to be in it to win it and that we are at the moment.”

Any Second Now will carry top-weight of 11st 12lb in the Grand National
Any Second Now will carry top-weight of 11st 12lb in the Grand National (Brian Lawless/PA)

A total of 57 contenders have stood their ground, with Ted Walsh’s Any Second Now – third and second in the last two renewals – out on his own at the head of the weights on 11st 12lb.

Last year’s winner Noble Yeats is just 1lb behind on 11st 11lb, as is Galvin, while ante-post favourite Corach Rambler looks set to carry 10st 5lb.

Eva’s Oskar and Recite A Prayer are the two lowest-rated horses in the field of 40 at this stage, with a mark of 142 translating to a weight of 10st 1lb.

Connections of the three horses rated 141 – Our Power, Dunboyne and Francky Du Berlais – now face an anxious wait to see if they will make the final cut for the great race on April 15.

Lifetime Ambition of National victory edging closer for Harrington

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Jessica Harrington has captured many big races in both codes of racing, but the decorated handler could have found an appropriately-named horse to fill the Randox Grand National-shaped void in her trophy cabinet.

Lifetime Ambition is the horse in question – an eight-year-old gelding who comes alive in the spring.

Twice a winner over the larger obstacles, he won a Grade Three at Limerick at this time of year last season, before going on to chase home Capodanno in a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival.

His Aintree credentials were on show during his reappearance in November when given a sighter of the famous green spruce in the Grand Sefton and having finished an eyecatching fourth on that occasion, the rest of his campaign has been geared around a return to Merseyside on April 15.

Lifetime Ambition ridden by Sean O’Keeffe on their way to winning the tote Ten To Follow Beginners Chase at Down Royal
Lifetime Ambition ridden by Sean O’Keeffe on their way to winning the tote Ten To Follow Beginners Chase at Down Royal (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He jumped very well and I was delighted with him,” said Harrington.

“I just hope the ground is OK, he likes nice spring ground, good to soft would be fine, he doesn’t like that tacky ground though.”

Following his appearance in Liverpool, Lifetime Ambition finished second to fellow Aintree contender The Big Dog in the Troytown at Navan – giving a bold sight in front until an error at the final fence allowed his rival to pass for a three-and-a-half-length victory.

He was then a respectable third to Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan prior to Christmas and has been kept ticking over among useful company in the early stages of 2023.

All roads now lead back to Aintree where Harrington is confident he has the right attributes to thrive over the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile trip.

“He is going to definitely run in the National and Sean O’Keeffe is going to ride him. It’s all systems go.

“He’s a nice horse who stays well,” she added. “All of his form is in the spring of the year and that is when he comes into himself.

“He knows the fences, I think he will stay and he is a horse who will be up there on the front end, hopefully keeping out of trouble, and hopefully the race will get run the way he likes it.”

Harrington is one of the few trainers to do the Cheltenham Festival treble of the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, while her National Hunt haul includes an Irish Grand National thanks to Our Duke in 2017.

Trainer Jessica Harrington will saddle Lifetime Ambition in the Randox Grand National
Trainer Jessica Harrington will saddle Lifetime Ambition in the Randox Grand National (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Grand National, however, is one that eludes her.

Despite her long career in the training ranks, it was not until 2019 she had her first runner in the big race when silver medallist Magic Of Light almost did the unthinkable and denied the great Tiger Roll at odds of 66-1.

Magic Of Light returned to Aintree much better fancied in 2021 only to unseat at the fourth, while the same year Jett blazed a trail on the front end for a long way until the petrol tank of the Sam Waley-Cohen-ridden outsider emptied at the second-last.

That small sample size though should not detract from the 76-year-old’s desire to taste success in Merseyside – a victory which would taste all the more sweeter in light of the news Harrington has been battling breast cancer.

“I would be delighted to win it, it is a race I have always wanted to win,” she said.

“Magic Of Light was my first runner in it and since then I’ve had her and Jett run in it in 2021.

“I haven’t had that many runners, but it would be lovely to win one.”

Corach Rambler is the Ultima hero once again

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Corach Rambler enhanced his claims for the Randox Grand National when becoming the fourth back-to-back winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase.

Lucinda Russell’s 6-1 favourite pounced late to land the Cheltenham Festival spoils 12 months ago and was ridden cold once again by Derek Fox.

Always travelling easily for the National-winning pilot, the enigmatic nine-year-old was coaxed into contention as the race began to unfold and was then asked to join the party jumping the last – from where he knuckled down gamely to stay on to the line, holding off Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow to extend the dominance of British-trained horses in this race.

He will now head to Aintree on April 15 and was made the 7-1 joint-favourite for the Merseyside marathon by Betfair, while William Hill go further with Corach Rambler their 6-1 favourite, cut from 10s.

Russell’s partner and assistant Peter Scudamore said: “It’s a great thrill. I do appreciate how incredibly fortunate I am and if a bolt of lightning hits me on the way out, I’d die a happy man.

“The funny thing is that his jumping is getting better and he was closer than last year.

“All Derek wants to do is go out there and ride and that is the mark of the man.”

Russell added: “It’s such a special pleasure to be here and to watch the horse enjoying himself.

“The track is so stiff but he picked up speed round the corner. It was phenomenal.

“When he hits the front he pulls himself up a bit – it’s just magic that you can have a runner here, let alone a winner.

“He will now go the Aintree for the National. He deserves to have a crack and that’s the next step.”

Michael O’Sullivan struck aboard Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle to cap a fine opening day for the young rider who earlier took the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Marine Nationale.

Jazzy Matty ridden by Michael O’Sullivan on their way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival
Jazzy Matty ridden by Michael O’Sullivan on their way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)

The 18-1 scorer led home an all-Irish one-two-three-four to get Gordon Elliott off the mark for the week.

Elliott said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The horse is a brother to Delta Work, who is obviously a very good chaser for us.

“We knew he had a good enough mark coming over, but we thought he might just lack the experience.

“It is great to get a winner – I thought I might struggle to get a winner today to be honest. We had a few each-way chances, but to pull something out on the first day is unbelievable.”

The Cullentra House handler was also full of praise for the winning rider.

He added: “He doesn’t get that many rides for us, but he comes into the yard every Monday, never says anything, if I give him a ride, I give him a ride.

“I actually thought he claimed five (pounds). I put him down on the horse and I didn’t realise he claimed three (in England). I think he was lucky that if I’d copped it, it might not have happened, but in fairness he gave the horse a brilliant ride. He was slow at the last but didn’t panic. I’m delighted for him.”

O’Sullivan added: “It is unbelievable. Thanks very much to Gordon and the Browns for putting me up on him.

“I suppose I’m claiming 5lb in Ireland but only claiming 3lb here, so I probably lost a couple of rides in handicaps because of that, but in fairness to Gordon, he kept me on him.

“He got a bit of a fright at the first hurdle and was very careful after that. I thought we went very slow and he’s a big horse, so I gave him plenty of room and he travelled everywhere for me. I knew coming to the last I was wrong, but I didn’t want to be confusing him, because he was being careful up until then.

“I was confident enough I had plenty of horse left and I’d say he won with a bit in hand,. He is a nice horse going forward.”

Patrick Mullins won the WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase for the second year in a row aboard his father’s Gaillard Du Mesnil.

Gaillard Du Mesnil ridden by Patrick Mullins wins the WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival
Gaillard Du Mesnil ridden by Patrick Mullins wins the WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has placed in Grade One company at the last two Festivals, but it looked as if the 10-11 favourite had his work cut out to reel in the forward-going Mahler Mission.

However, John McConnell’s charge tipped up at the second-last to allow Gaillard Du Mesnil to put his stamina to good use and stay on past Chemical Energy in the closing stages.

He was shortened into 12-1 from 16s by Coral for the Grand National, but his handler indicated that race may come too soon in the aftermath.

“I think we were a bit fortunate to be honest with John McConnell’s horse falling, but that’s racing,” said Mullins.

“It was a tough three miles and six furlongs and while we were behind, Patrick thought they’d gone fast enough. I’m very happy.

“I don’t know about Aintree, I don’t know if it will come too soon for him so we’ll see.

“I’m thrilled for the owners, Joe and Marie (Donnelly), they were second in the Champion Hurdle, too.”

Patrick Mullins said: “He jumped a bit high. I think it was the white fences. We had the put in at home and he jumped them high there, too.

“Over that distance you just want them to pop, not expand energy, but after the first circuit he was better.”

The Big Dog impresses Fahey with racecourse school

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The Big Dog is firmly on course for the Randox Grand National on April 15 following a successful racecourse schooling session at Navan.

Aintree has been the plan for Peter Fahey’s charge since winning both the Munster National and Troytown Handicap Chase in the early part of the season and he continued his fine campaign by putting in a respectable performance in the Welsh National at Christmas, finishing third with the burden of top weight.

Handed a Grade One assignment in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, the 10-year-old was in the process of running arguably a career best when taking a fall at the second last.

Given a clean bill of health in the aftermath of his Leopardstown outing, The Big Dog is now deep into his preparation for the Merseyside marathon, where he has a mark of 160 and set to carry 11st 5lb.

A schooling session in the hands of Keith Donoghue on Sunday left Fahey delighted and he confirmed it is “all systems go” for Liverpool, with The Big Dog is a general 25-1 for Grand National glory.

He said: “He’s good and has actually just had a racecourse school – he went two miles over fences at Navan on Sunday and he jumped very well.

“Keith Donoghue rode him and he was thrilled with him. He will ride him at Aintree for us.

“It is all systems go for the National now with him. I’m delighted with how he is, he came out of his last race really well and he put in a very good schooling session yesterday.”

Le Milos leaves Skelton taking plenty of positives from weekend reverse

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Dan Skelton has Le Milos “perfectly where I want him” ahead of his tilt at the Randox Grand National – despite his annoyance the Coral Gold Cup hero was agonisingly denied in his Aintree prep at Kelso.

The Alcester-based handler made no secret of the fact he had left a bit to work on ahead of Le Milos’ run in the Listed Premier Chase on Saturday, but the 10-11 favourite looked set to oblige when his class took him clear of the field heading to the last.

Having been off the track since scoring at Newbury in November, fitness took its toll in the closing stages and despite hitting the basement price of 1.01 on the exchanges in running, Sandy Thomson’s Empire Steel ran on strongly to mug Skelton’s Aintree candidate in the shadow of the post.

Although disappointed not to leave the Scottish borders with victory, Skelton knows exactly how much of the screw needs to be tightened before he embarks on his Merseyside mission and is confident the eight-year-old will arrive in Liverpool at the peak of his powers.

He said: “It was a good prep run, but it was gutting to get beat when we were ahead three strides before the line – that was fairly annoying.

“That happens and I made no secret beforehand the horse was going to improve for the run. I did think five strides before the last that perhaps he might get away with it, but it was very obvious on landing that he took a massive blow.

“It is a bit frustrating to get beat, but you can see the horse is in great health and he jumped and travelled round there really well, which was just what I wanted to see.”

Le Milos and connections after winning the Coral Gold Cup
Le Milos and connections after winning the Coral Gold Cup (PA)

He went on: “We’ve got a bit of work to do now, which we always knew we were going to have, but he is perfectly where I want him in terms of Grand National preparation.

“That race will do him 10 per cent of the work and then there’s a few more per cent to work on, but I will make sure he’s ready.

“Corach Rambler is obviously one of the favourites and there are a few others in there, but we’re one of the more prominent in the betting from the English team and we will be going there to fly the flag and do our best.”

‘Excited’ Vaughan hoping Eva’s Oskar will make National cut

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Tim Vaughan is keeping his fingers crossed Eva’s Oskar will sneak into the Randox Grand National having completed his Aintree preparation in the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

The nine-year-old has enjoyed a solid campaign in staying handicaps this term, showing plenty of guts to win at Cheltenham in December and making a bold bid from the front at Gosforth Park on Saturday until the burden of top weight began to tell in the closing stages, eventually coming home fourth.

Vaughan reports Eva’s Oskar to have bounced out of his trip to the north east and his next appearance will be on April 15 at Aintree, with the Freebooter Handicap Chase that precedes the big race itself set to provide a back-up option.

But the Cowbridge handler is hoping for some good fortune which will allow his Shirocco gelding, who is outside the top 50 in the handicap for the National, to sneak into the main event off bottom-weight.

“He’s absolutely A1, he has come out of the race nicely and we were thrilled with both him and the run,” said Vaughan.

“We’re hoping now to go straight to the Grand National and pray that we get in.

“I don’t know if we will get in and only time will tell, but what we will do is enter him in the three-mile-one chase there on the same day, so if he doesn’t get in the National we have covered off both angles. The main plan though is the National and we’re excited.

“I always thought he wanted softer ground, but in reality he seems to have improved a lot for good ground this year and that will help him see out the trip. He can travel at a bit of speed, he’ll stay and he’ll be off bottom-weight.

“I’m excited, I’m really excited to have a runner in the race and one that will go there all singing and dancing. Now we just have to hope that we get in.”