The Grand National at Aintree in April
remains the highlight of the steeplechasing year and one of the most
anticipated events of the whole sporting
calendar. Currently, bookmakers are offering 20-1 the field in
their ante-post betting lists.
Shutthefrontdoor
The early favourite is last year’s
Irish Grand National winner Shutthefrontdoor, owned by JP McManus and
trained by Jonjo O’Neill. They enjoyed Aintree triumph with Don’t
Push It in 2010 but suffered heartache in 2012 when the
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner lost his life in a freak accident whilst
attempting the big-race double.
Shutthefrontdoor had always promised to
be a useful stayer and finished a close sixth in the National Hunt
Chase at Cheltenham over four miles. He confirmed the promise of that
run when winning at Fairyhouse and began his 2014-15 campaign with a
comfortable victory at Carlisle.
O’Neill also has Merry King prominent
in the ante-post lists after a fine run in the Hennessy Gold Cup in
November. He is another dour stayer but proved disappointing last
season after a similarly encouraging effort at Newbury.
Unioniste
Trainer Paul Nicholls ended his Grand
National hoodoo with Neptune
Collonges in 2012 and he looks to have an ideal candidate with
Unioniste.
Like Neptune Collonges, he is a grey
gelding racing in the colours of John Hales. He was trained with the
Gold Cup in mind last year and although he fell short of that
standard he remains a top quality handicapper, especially when the
mud is flying.
Nicholls firmly believes that Rocky
Creek has the class to win a Grand National and he will have
benefitted from his run round in fifth place last season. Stable
companion Sam Winner is also prominent in the early lists but may be
handicapped out of it after some fine efforts at Grade 1 level.
Monbeg Dude
Last year’s race may be a useful
guide in helping to find the 2015 Grand National winner. Pineau De Re
is on course to attempt back-to-back victories in the race, a feat
last achieved by Red
Rum in 1973 and 1974. Runner-up Balthazar King is also being
trained specifically for this race along with Alvarado and Monbeg
Dude who both ran with credit in 2014.
Monbeg Dude won the Welsh National in
2013 and advertised his claims last year with a fine victory in a
Grade 2 chase at Cheltenham. He survived a couple of mistakes to
finish seventh in last year’s Grand National and connections will
be hoping for softer ground this time.
He caught the eye when running on into
fourth place in the Hennessy behind Many Clouds. He again ran well at
Chepstow in December when finishing fourth behind Emperors Choice and
is sure to be among the leading contenders in April.
Alvarado maintained an incredible
sequence for owners Angela and William Rucker when finishing fourth
last year. The Rucker family have now had a horse placed in each of
the last six Grand Nationals dating back to State Of Play in 2009.
Spring Heeled
Cheltenham festival winner Spring
Heeled could also be aimed at Aintree this year. Jim Culloty’s
eight-year-old held off the challenge of Cause Of Causes to win the
Kim Muir in March. He has since finished fifth in the Gold Cup at
Sandown and fourth in the Galway Plate. Culloty may run Spring Heeled
over hurdles until the weights are published for Aintree in an effort
to protect his handicap mark. Good ground is the preferred surface
for the son of Old Vic.
Mendip Express
may just have booked his Aintree ticket when running on late to
finish second to Oscar Time in the Becher Handicap Chase in December.
Harry Fry’s nine-year-old has won four of his eight races under
rules with his only disappointment coming when pulled up in the
Scottish National last year.
The Grand National takes place at
Aintree on Saturday 11th April 2015 with a TV audience expected to be
in advance of 600 million people.
By Harvey Mayson
