ANOTHER AINTREE FAIRYTALE ON SATURDAY?
Written by Darren Thrussell on 13/04/23
Liverpool is the place to be this spring. Not only is the north-western English city hosting next month’s Eurovision Song Contact, but this coming Saturday sees the staging of arguably the world’s greatest horse race – the Grand National at Aintree, just a few miles from the city centre itself.
First run back in 1839, the Grand National has thrown up some incredible stories over the year. From three time champion Red Rum in the 1970s to Bob Champion’s success aboard Aldaniti in 1981 despite having been diagnosed with cancer only a few years before, the National can tell many a tale. Indeed, only last year, amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen tasted victory aboard Noble Yeats in his very last race ride.
So, what fairytales could we see this year? Well, current favourite for the race is recent Cheltenham Festival winner CORACH RAMBLER, whose trainer Lucinda Russell sent out One for Arthur to win the 2017 Grand National, in the process becoming the first Scottish-trained winner in the race since Rubstic back in 1979. After One for Arthur died last month at the age of fourteen, there may well not be a dry eye in the house if Corach Rambler was to land the spoils on Saturday.
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the victory of American-owned Sergeant Murphy in the race. Sergeant Murphy was owned by US businessman Stephen Sanford, whose great-grandson Pierre Manigault tried in vain to buy Hewick for a tilt at Aintree glory after that horse won the American Grand National back in October for Irish trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon. With Hewick not for sale, Hanlon was tasked with finding a suitable horse for Manigault, and the result is CAPE GENTLEMAN, who Hanlon purchased from trainer Emmet Mullins at the end of last year. Although set to be a huge outsider on Saturday, it should be pointed out that Cape Gentleman is a seven year old unproven over further than three miles, two facts that also applied to Noble Yeats before he won last year’s renewal.
English born but French-based jockey Felix de Giles is no stranger to big race success in his adopted homeland, but returns to the country of his birth on Saturday to ride ROI MAGE, who himself can boast an excellent career in France. Third in France’s biggest steeplechase, the Grand Steeplechase de Paris back in 2019, Roi Mage joined Irish trainer Patrick Griffin just over a year ago, and wasted no time in impressing for his new connections, winning on his Irish chase debut at Downroyal in March last year, with Irish Group winners Agusta Gold and Samcro behind. Second at the same course last time behind Longhouse Poet who also runs on Saturday (Roi Mage 10 lbs better off with that rival for a 1 1/4 length defeat), the eleven year old Roi Mage possesses a lot of class, and could well give his owners their second victory in the race after Aurora’s Encore won the National for them back in 2013.
Other possible headline makers on Saturday include football manager Harry Redknapp, co-owner of cross country specialist BACK ON THE LASH. However, the nine year old needs good ground to show his best form, and with rain forecast, conditions might not be in his favour on Saturday. Ground conditions don’t seem to matter to MINELLA TRUMP, trained by Donald McCain, whose father Ginger is synonymous with Aintree folklore, having trained Red Rum to his three Grand National victories. Winner of eight of his twelve chases to date on ground ranging from soft to good, Minella Trump could go well on Saturday, but is another one for whom the distance is an unknown.
Two time winner of the Grand National in 2018 and 2019, the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll was narrowly beaten in his last ever race by stablemate DELTA WORK, who like Tiger Roll runs in the famous colours of Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary. Third in this race last year, Delta Work warmed up for Saturday with victory in the cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and looks set to go close here, especially as he carries 5 lbs less than last year.
ANY SECOND NOW has been third and second in the last two renewals of the National, and comes here in fine form having landed a Group 2 chase at Navan last time out, whilst NOBLE YEATS bids for a second successive victory in the race, having finished a fine fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.
It’s not often that an Italian Group 1 winning hurdler gets a mention in a Grand National preview. However, after his stellar career in Italy came to a close, the Francesco Contu-trained Frammassone, widely regarded as Italy’s greatest ever hurdler, became a stallion in Ireland, where one of his progeny was GABBYS CROSS, who lines up on Saturday. However, not only is Gabbys Cross another runner with unproven stamina in the race, it should be noted that regular jockey Rachael Blackmore has opted to ride Ain’t That a Shame on Saturday.
Finally, no mention of fairytales in the races should be complete without the mention of OUR POWER, whose owner, Welshman Dai Walters survived a horrendous helicopter crash in November last year. Having spent several months in intensive care in hospital, Walters is now back at home slowly recovering from his terrifying experience, but Our Power could give him just the tonic he needs. Trained in south Glamorgan by Sam Thomas, who was also aboard the helicopter when it crashed but who escaped with slight injuries, Our Power has won both his races this year, and although not the most experienced of horses, could go well under a light weight.
