Two more slots have opened up in the field for the Grand National on 14 April with the withdrawal of Go Conquer and As De Mee. Go Conquer will be directed instead towards the Topham Chase while As De Mee is out for the rest of the season with a minor leg injury, depriving the Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench of the chance to own a National runner.
The Rooney family, owners of Go Conquer, also have Beeves and The Last Samuri in the National and have therefore decided against asking Go Conquer to stretch out his stamina to four miles. His trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, confirmed the horse will once more tackle the Topham, in which his chance was ended by interference at the Canal Turn a year ago.
O’Neill will content himself with a single National runner, Minella Rocco, who skipped the Cheltenham Gold Cup because of testing ground. “He’s in grand old form,” O’Neill said. “He didn’t run at Cheltenham, so he’s fresh and well. If he gets into a nice rhythm and everything goes according to plan for him for the first circuit, you’d be getting excited with him.”
Six of the top 40 horses in the National field have been ruled out by connections and, provided there are no sudden changes of heart, that should mean Milansbar and Final Nudge will secure places in the race. Milansbar is to be schooled over Aintree-style fences in Lambourn on Thursday by his jockey, Bryony Frost.
Wolverhampton 2.10 Mighty Zip 2.40 Flying Sparkle 3.15 Fast Track 3.45 Sunshineandbubbles 4.20 Runaiocht 4.50 Baghdad (nb) 5.20 Ghost
Chelmsford 5.45 Dancing Brave Bear 6.15 Emigrated 6.45 Great Order 7.15 Extra Mile 7.45 Blackheath (nap) 8.15 Summerghand 8.45 Rock'n Gold
Final Nudge’s jockey has yet to be determined but it may very well end up being Aidan Coleman, who is owed a change of luck in the National. Coleman rode David Dennis’s horse to be third in the Welsh National and better ground might show Final Nudge in a still better light.
Paul Nicholls said Vicente may still take his chance in the National if the ground dries up. If it looks as if the ground will be soft, the horse will skip Aintree in favour of the following week’s Scottish National. Charlie Longsdon’s Pendra is still being aimed at the National but it would be no surprise if connections opted to save him for Sandown’s Bet365 Chase at the end of the month, since he would be 5lb better off in the weights there.
A healthy Irish contingent is expected for the National, as Valseur Lido, Alpha Des Obeaux, Tiger Roll and A Genie In Abottle are all expected to carry Michael O’Leary’s colours in the race he won two years ago.
