GRAND NATIONAL:JP McMANUS' racing manager, Frank Berry, insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner's four entries he will ride in Saturday's English Grand National. Victory in the Aintree marathon is one of the few prizes to still elude the 13-time champion jockey, and he has the choice of Butler's Cabin, L'Ami, Reveillez and Can't Buy Time in this year's renewal.
McCoy has indicated he will decide on his mount as late as possible, and Berry believes at least three of the McManus contenders have leading claims.
“There is no pressure for Tony to make up his mind, because we have jockeys ready for the other horses,” said Berry. “I’m sure he will wait to see what the ground is on Thursday morning.”
Butler’s Cabin came to grief jumping Becher’s for the second time a year ago, but Berry believes he has to go into this year’s renewal with a leading chance.
“Butler’s Cabin jumped well for a long way last year and has come back and run a good race in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham,” he added. “He’s a bit higher in the weights this year but he has come out of his last race well – and you would have to be pleased with him.”
L’Ami made it only as far as the second fence 12 months ago, ending the riding career of Mick Fitzgerald with a crashing fall.
“Before the National last year, I thought L’Ami would be one you would love to be riding because I thought he’d be very safe. But for some reason he missed out the second badly, and poor old Mick (Fitzgerald) got a bad fall,” Berry recalled.
“He’s been round the cross country courses a few times since and he has got sharper at it. He’s fit and well, so I hope he will run a good race.”
Malcolm Jefferson believes Brooklyn Brownie could go well at big odds, having finished second over the giant fences in the Grand Sefton back in November.
“I just thought we’d give him a run over the National fences, because he’s always had the appetite to jump,” said Jefferson.
“He ran well to finish second, and I said to his owners then if everything went right we would aim for the National, and that’s what we’ve done.
“He jumps fences probably the best way for a National horse, because he’s not over extravagant and he is quite a clever horse. Over four-and-a-half miles, you never know – but he ticks a few boxes.”
Bob Buckler faces an anxious wait to see whether Niche Market scrapes into the bottom of the weights.
With War of Attrition the latest runner to fall by the wayside, Zabenz is now the final horse on the list in the 40-runner field.
Nick Williams’ Maljimar is the first reserve, with Niche Market also behind Companero and Pomme Tiepy and therefore needing four to drop out.
“We might just get in, but we’ll have to wait and see. If we don’t, we’ll go to Fairyhouse for the Irish National instead,” said Buckler.
Buckler is at least guaranteed one Aintree runner, with stable star The Sawyer set for Friday’s Topham Chase over the same fences.
The Venetia Williams-trained Stan is a slightly surprising confirmation for Saturday’s big race and is sure to provide concern to connections of horses on the Aintree waiting list.
The chaser will be saddled with at least 11st 6lb, but was one of the few in the field not certain to be starting as he had the Nakayama Grand Jump as an alternative.
But Stan’s owner, Paul Beck, said: “We’ve turned down the Japanese invitation and we’re 100 per cent set for Aintree.
“I don’t think he’s without a chance, if he stays the trip. I suppose he’s a bit of a trip-less horse, but he was staying on when he was fourth behind New Little Bric in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade Three at Newbury under a big weight and looked like he might appreciate a greater test of stamina there.
“If it’s good ground on Saturday, he’ll love that when it won’t suit others so well.”
Graham Lee, due to ride Kilbeggan Blade in the National, suffered an injury scare at Wetherby yesterday. The jockey was unseated from Wee Forbes and was then kicked by a rival horse as he was on the ground.
