Nina Carberry will take another shot at becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National a week on Saturday when she climbs aboard First Lieutenant. The horse’s trainer, Mouse Morris, confirmed on Tuesday that he had booked the Irish amateur jockey to replace Bryan Cooper, suspended for breaches of the whip rules during the Cheltenham Festival.
Morris acknowledged that Carberry has not ridden First Lieutenant in a race. “But she’s ridden him at home,” he said and added that the pair had schooled well together over a National-style fence in recent days.
First Lieutenant is a general 33-1 shot for the Aintree race on 11 April, having seemed to lose his form this winter. “He’s had some tough races and he’s getting on a bit,” Morris agreed, but the Grand National has had a reviving effect on some horses with that profile over the years.
“He’s got as good a chance as any,” the trainer continued. “I was fourth in it one year [with Lastofthebrownies in 1989] and he’d have a better chance than that one. He’s got a bit of class but you also need a bit of luck.”
First Lieutenant was a Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles in 2011 and won the Betfred Bowl at Aintree a couple of years ago. The National will be his first chance in a handicap since he was third in a high-class version of the Hennessy behind Bobs Worth and Tidal Bay in 2012.
The 30-year-old Carberry has had four rides in the National, completing the course three times and finishing seventh on Character Building in 2010. Her sister-in-law Katie Walsh achieved the best placing by a woman in the race when third on Seabass in 2012.
Jonjo O’Neill’s only runner in this year’s race will be the favourite, Shutthefrontdoor, following the news that his Merry King has developed a breathing problem which will put him out of action until the autumn. Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson said Hadrian’s Approach was a doubtful runner after banging a joint.
Home Farm is another National entrant who now seems unlikely to line up. “I’ve got to talk to the owners but I’m 95% sure he won’t run,” said his Waterford-based trainer, Henry De Bromhead. “He’s only eight. We might be over for next year but I think we’ll keep him for Punchestown this time.”
But there will be some depth to the Irish challenge for this year’s race, as Portrait King and Owega Star were both confirmed as intended runners by their trainers.
The news about Merry King and Home Farm means that Court By Surprise should now make the cut for the Grand National and become a first runner in the race for his trainer, Emma Lavelle. Meanwhile all the horses set to carry 10st 2lb are currently just outside the safety limit of 40 runners and connections must hope for further withdrawals at the next entry stage on Monday.
Among those fretting over such matters is the Cumbrian-based Dianne Sayer, whose Baileys Concerto is among those on 10st 2lb. “Brian Hughes schooled him over the National-style fences at Malton this morning,” Sayer said.
“I think we caught the worst weather of the winter – we had wind, hail and rain – but the schooling itself went well. It’s another step on the road towards the Grand National and we are very happy with him.
“He had a bit of heat and swelling in his leg when he came back from the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, which I was initially very concerned about but it was just him over-reacting as usual.
“We lost a bit of time because of that and there was a suspicion when we ran him at Kelso that he wasn’t quite right but it would have meant a long break between Doncaster and Aintree. I wasn’t overly disappointed with that run and it will have hopefully helped us.
“If he doesn’t get in, then we will give the Topham Chase a go instead.”
