JP McManus is set to field seven runners in the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday– but is still to finalise a jockey for Anibale Fly.
Trained by Tony Martin, whoever is chosen for Anibale Fly could be in for some thrill at Aintree, given he has finished fourth and fifth in the race in the past – as well as being placed twice in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
All other jockeys have been finalised, though, with McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry filling in the gaps.
Berry told the PA news agency: “Mark Walsh will ride Any Second Now, Richie McLernon rides Kimberlite Candy, Derek O’Connor probably rides Ok Corral because he’s won on him a couple of times.
“Rachael (Blackmore) rides Minella Times for Henry (de Bromhead). The Long Mile runs, and Luke Dempsey will ride him. Tom Bellamy is on Canelo for Alan King.
“We haven’t sorted one out for Anibale Fly yet. He hasn’t shown much of late, but Tony is very happy with him, and hopefully he’s going there in good form.”
The Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now, who won the Kim Muir at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, is towards the top of the market for Saturday's contest.
He was last seen winning the Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase at Navan last month by ten lengths.
Minella Times is also among the market leaders for the National and will be very popular with punters as Rachael Blackmore partners the eight-year-old for trainer Henry de Bromhead.
McManus tasted Grand National success with Don't Push It in 2010, a result which was disastrous for the bookies.
He was backed in from 20/1 to 10/1 on the day of the race and was steered to victory by legendary jockey AP McCoy.
Paddy Power said the win as "probably the worst ever National result", while Ladbrokes described it as "a multi-million-pound bloodbath".
The three-day Grand National meeting kicks off on Thursday, with seven races taking place.
Aintree’s Clerk of the Course Sulekha Varma said today: “Aintree is looking in great shape on the eve of the Randox Grand National Festival.
“Watering is continuing on the Mildmay and Hurdle Courses and we will assess later today whether the Grand National Course requires any additional watering.”
