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1871, and Nicolaus Silver, 1961 Son Of War is trained by Peter McCreery, maternal grandson of Tom Taaffe, who sent out Mr What to win in 1958, and a nephew of the late Pat Taaffe, who won on Quare Times in 1955 and Gay Trip in 1970. This will be McCreery's first visit to Aintree.
Son Of War is ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, architect of Imperial Call's Gold Cup triumph and third on Laura's Beau in the 1992 National. Enjoying his best season, and lying second behind Charlie Swan in the championship, O'Dwyer is looking to become the first jockey since John Burke in 1976 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Royal Frolic) and Grand National (Rag Trade) in the same season.
Like Life Of A Lord, Son Of War has had this race as his prime objective for some time and showed signs of an imminent return to his best when going under narrowly to the 40 lb receiving Carrigeen Kerria at Fairyhouse following a creditable fourth in the Hennessy at Leopardstown. Son Of War is owned by Vera O'Brien, who lives in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
Arthur Moore's massively built charge Wylde Hide, dual winner of the Thyestes Chase, is on the upgrade. He stays, jumps like a stag and likes to be up with the pace. However, he needs soft ground to be seen at his best. The 12 year old Rust Never Sleeps, who is the same age as last year's winner Royal Athlete, was twice runner up in the Irish National. Trained by Donal Hassett and ridden by Trevor Horgan, he too will stay and might well run into a place at good odds. I have little fancy for our remaining runner, Three Brownies.
While the average starting price for Grand National winners in the past decade is 22 to one, seven or one quarter of today's runners are likely to start at 10 to one and under. The National fences may have been modified, but this remains the most demanding steeplechase in the world and some of the odds are unrealistic.
For instance, the likely favourite, Rough Quest, may be thrown in at the weights, but he had a hard enough race in the Gold Cup only two weeks ago and was at first considered more likely to contest the Irish Grand National. Superior Finish's odds tumbled when Richard Dunwoody was booked. He was a 33 to one chance when he fell under Peter Niven in last year's renewal, but he could vie for favouritism today.
Young Hustler will love the ground and won over the National fences in November. But he unseated his rider at the third last year and was brought down at the 11th the year before. The course specialist, Party Politics, has undergone all kinds of operations, but this equine giant could again finish in the money.
At the likely odds Antonin represents value. He had top class form a few seasons ago, but has suffered from a lung infection which is now believed to have cleared. Well handicapped, he represents Sue Bramall's second last runner as a trainer in England before she moves shortly to Ireland, where she will set up stables between Arklow and Gorey. Colonel George (Champion National Hunt Flat Race) is her last representative.
Life Of A Lord is my hopeful choice, with Anton in recommended each way.
