RACING:LAST YEAR'S winner Don't Push It heads 74 remaining entries for the Grand National at Aintree on April 9th. Jonjo O'Neill's 11-year-old gave multiple champion jockey Tony McCoy an emotional first success in the world's most famous steeplechase last year, but will be forced to concede weight all round to his rivals this time.
The ante-post favourite is the Willie Mullins-trained The Midnight Club, while Oscar Time will bid to give Robert and Sam Waley-Cohen a huge double following last week’s Gold Cup success of Long Run.
Backstage, Ballabriggs, the Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend and Big Fella Thanks are other major players.
The Evan Williams-trained Deep Purple is one of eight to have been taken out, along with Tatenen, Tricky Trickster, Dream Alliance, Snowy Morning, Gullible Gordon, Meanus Dandy and The Sliotar.
Big Fella Thanks, fourth last year when trained by Paul Nicholls, enjoyed a gentle canter alongside the course at Aintree yesterday, joined by stablemate Watch My Back.
His current trainer, Ferdy Murphy, is thrilled with the condition of the track and feels his charge is better equipped to handle the marathon four-and-a-half-mile trip this season. “It’s nice to get them away for the day, it keeps them on their toes and gives them an important change of scenery,” said the West Witton handler.
“The ground is fantastic and I’d hope they’d keep it exactly the same for the big day. He’s strengthened up a lot more this year and his two prep runs went according to plan. He looks fantastic and I think he would have a very good chance.
“I think we will ride him more conservatively this year. To be fair to Barry (Geraghty), he was thrust into the race after Ruby (Walsh) got injured and the horse ran with the choke out a little bit.
“Hopefully we’ll ride him the same way Graham (Lee) did when he won on Amberleigh House – that is to hunt away and leave it late. Graham will definitely be prepared for him this year.”
Silver By Nature impressed when winning the Grand National Trial at Haydock in February for Lucinda Russell.
The trainer’s partner and multiple champion jockey Peter Scudamore famously never won the National, but feels Silver By Nature has plenty going for him this year.
Scudamore said: “When he won at Haydock, I honestly thought he was an absolute certainty to win the National. But then I looked at the form carefully with all the other runners and had to think again. Everyone keeps going on about the ground and while he would appreciate it good to soft, I certainly don’t think he needs it bottomless.
“He’s not a speed horse, though, and he certainly wouldn’t want a horse like What A Friend getting the trip on fast ground. Either way, I think he’s got a great chance.”
British Horseracing Authority senior handicapper Phil Smith burnt the midnight oil framing the weights for the great race – but believes other factors will come into play. He said: “There are seven or eight horses well in at the weights, including Silver By Nature, Quinz, Arbor Supreme, What A Friend and In Compliance.
“That said, over the last seven years there’s only been one horse who has been well in that has won the race, which is Comply Or Die.
“Luck in running is just as important as having a few pounds in hand of the handicapper.”
Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch is happy with how the Merseyside turf is shaping up ahead of the prestigious meeting, and watering will be considered if dry conditions persist. “We’re very pleased with where we are with the course at the moment,” said Tulloch.
“It’s looking dry for the next week but if we need to water, we will do. It’s looking like the ground is going to be good to soft on the National course.”
