The once-a-year betting spectacular that is the Grand National takes place this Saturday (April 5). Perhaps not the event it once was, it has come back from waning popularity before and is still the big draw of the jumps season.
The final field of 34, previously 40, will be known by late Thursday morning with Irish-trained horses looking set to dominate again. Intense Raffles (Thomas Gibney), I Am Maximus (Willie Mullins), Stumptown (Gavin Cromwell) and Hewick (Shark Hanlon) are all vying for market leadership.
In amongst them however is Iroko, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. He has been targeted at this race all year.
Paul Nicholls has also been keeping a team of five for this race, but suffered some jockey blows this week. Initially, Bryony Frost was set to partner Stay Away Fay but apparently told the trainer she could not leave France and take up the ride.
Jonathan Burke was then booked to replace Frost, but later informed Nicholls he could not take the ride after Willie Mullins asked him to instead partner Minella Crooner. Now, Paul O’Brien has come in for the mount on Stay Away Fay.
Before the National kicks off there are a host of other fascinating contests, not least Thursday’s Aintree Hurdle. Constitution Hill is being kept going by Nicky Henderson after his Cheltenham fall, the popular hurdler being set to take in this race and the Punchestown Festival.
Now, it seems a re-match is the cards with brilliant mare Lossiemouth who took the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in devastating fashion. Currently, Constitution Hill is the 8/11 favourite, with the mare at 13/8. What a race to start the meeting.
Riches on Offer in Dubai
On the same day as the Grand National, the very different Dubai World Cup Day is staged at Meydan. Across the nine scheduled races some $30 million is up for grabs, $12m of that in the big race itself at 5.30.
There are a few good dirt races, not least the big one, and all are fascinating. Flood Zone, bought by the now familiar Wathnan Racing, goes in the UAE Derby and has a major chance.
The turf races however are providing those representing Britain with a great chance of big prize money and genuine race fitness before the domestic Group 1 events.
Trawlerman can go well in the Dubai Gold Cup, while stablemate Audience has the pace to go close in the Al Quoz Sprint. After this, he is on target to go for the now Group 1 City of York Stakes in August but may try to defend the Lockinge at Newbury first.
Organisers have accommodated the Grand National meeting by adjusting timings, making sure that British audiences get to see all the varied action on Saturday.
Eyes Already Turning to Guineas
The 1000 and 2000 Guineas fields will begin to take shape over the next few weeks, with the colts’ and fillies’ Classics run on May 3 and 4 respectively.
Godolphin hope Ancient Truth has already been ruled out with a small setback, though Charlie Appleby’s team remains large. Dewhirst winner Shadow Of Light is still on course for the race, while expensive purchase and easy Dubai winner Royal Court may take in the race before the Derby.
Impressive novice winner Opera Ballo is also due to reappear soon and put his hat in the ring. He follows similar footsteps to last year’s winner Notable Speech.
Despite this power, the bookmakers continue their obsession with Aidan O’Brien’s runners. His Twain and Expanded are challenging for favouritism, though the former will need a very solid trial if he is to win this.
Juddmonte are set to run exciting colt Cosmic Year soon, possibly in the Greenham (April 12th). He was shortened all the way into 10/1 in recent days, despite not having been seen since his novice run back in September. Some good work has clearly been happening behind the scenes.
That good work, it seems, has been replicated by 1000 Guineas favourite Desert Flower (Charlie Appleby). Without having yet run since her thrilling Fillies’ Mile success, she shorted first to 2/1, then to 7/4, 6/4 and now 11/8 for the mile Classic.