A WEEK away from the big race and this year’s Randox Grand National is coming to the boil with the Irish-trained first three from last year all getting the thumbs up from connections as they aim to make it five Irish wins in a row against the favourite Corach Rambler next Saturday. Paddy Power make it 1/3 an Irish-trained winner.

The race has the potential for a fairytale ending as Davy Russell confirmed this week that he intends to be back in action at Aintree after he stood himself down before the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month.

The 43-year-old retired in December last before returning to the saddle less than four weeks later when stable jockey Jack Kennedy broke his leg. He was still suffering after effects of a fall and a back injury from the Dublin Racing Festival at Cheltenham.

Speaking on the Nick Luck Podcast on Thursday, Russell said: “Gordon was adamant I should end on a better note and the horses were there for me.

“I’ve had three or four days in Dubai, selling horses, sitting by the pool.”

“I’ve taken a decision to miss Fairyhouse get myself fully fit and hit Aintree – I won’t be riding many but one or two every day to get my eye in for Saturday.”

“For some strange reason, Ronnie and Galvin have got me out of trouble over the years, we’ve had some great success. I got a marvellous spin off him in the Cross-Country at Cheltenham.”

Memorable wins

Russell partnered Delta Work into third last year after two memorable wins in Tiger Roll for the same connections in 2018 and 2019.

Delta Work’s trainer Gordon Elliott said this week there would not be “any better way” for Russell to conclude his career than by riding in the Randox Grand National.

Speaking at a Jockey Club pre-Aintree media morning on Wednesday, Elliott said: “Galvin is Davy’s (Russell) ride and he is there if he wants to ride him.

“Davy has been part of Cullentra since I started training and is coming to the end of his riding days but I wouldn’t want him to finish on the note he did at Cheltenham.

“He was very sore and made the right decision not to ride on at Cheltenham, that’s the man he is – he wasn’t going to do wrong by the horse or the owners. I’d like to give him a better send off than that.”

Challengers

Running through his Randox Grand National challengers, Elliott seeking a record-equalling fourth success, continued: “Delta Work was third in the race last year. He got a little bit far back early but ran a very good race. He was a bit careful but he is in great form now and we couldn’t be happier with him. He is very, very well.

“With Galvin the drier the ground, the better chance he has. He will come on a lot from Cheltenham and is in good form. We are very, very happy with him.

“Fury Road will be stepping up to this trip for the first time. He is a Grade 1 horse and a classy horse. Nice ground will suit him and he is in very good form.

“Coko Beach ran well in the race last year and won a Grand National Trial at Punchestown.

“Escaria Ten travelled well but didn’t get home last year. This year the plan is to ride him a bit differently by just dropping him in and taking our time.

“Dunboyne gets in off 10st and is going to wear blinkers. He stays really, really well and if he gets into a rhythm and is not too far back early he could run very, very well.”

One more win would see Elliott equal the record of training four Grand National winners, currently shared by Ginger McCain and Fred Rimell.

“The Grand National has been a special race to me and I have won it three times.

“If I had to pick a horse to ride this year it would be Delta Work.

Mullins and Walsh back for more

NOBLE Yeats will attempt to enter the record books by becoming just the 10th multiple winner of the Randox Grand National since it was first staged in 1839.

In 2022, the then seven-year-old became the first horse from that age group to succeed since Bogskar in 1940. He will carry 11st 11lb compared to his 10st 10lb from last year.

With Sean Bowen taking over in the saddle this year, Noble Yeats has won twice including the Grade 2 Boylesports Many Clouds Chase over the Mildmay course at Aintree in December and was a staying-on fourth in the Gold Cup last month.

Trainer Emmet Mullins said this week: “He’s been highly tried this year. We went down the Gold Cup route and have probably gone up a few pounds since then.

Tiger Roll won his second National with 11st 5lbs and we are trying to come back with 11st 11lbs so everything is just going to be a bit harder.

“He seems to have come out of the Gold Cup well. He’s getting a bit wiser every time and seems to look after himself a bit. He needs a bit more coaxing and Sean was under pressure and hard at it in the Gold Cup. When he got a bit of daylight, he flew home. He will wear cheekpieces again this year and we are not planning to add anything else.

“He was last jumping the first fence in the Grand National last year and wasn’t in contention for the first two miles which all worked out in his favour. There is no rule of thumb – it’s about getting the horse happy and confident with some space and getting the gaps.

“It will probably have to be taking the brave man’s route again to get that space but he negotiated it last year and fingers crossed can do it again.

Mullins could have a second runner this year in The Shunter, winner of the 2021 Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Mullins said of the J.P. McManus-owned 10-year-old: “We are undecided with The Shunter. He is looking well but there are no firm plans yet.”

Second for first?

Any Second Now carries top-weight of 11st 12lb, now rated 167, after his valiant effort off 11st 8lb last year and an unlucky third the year before.

Trainer Ted Walsh is in no doubt his charge faces a mammoth task in attempting to give him a second Grand National win, 23 years on from Papillon, and a third success for J.P. McManus.

“The horse is in good order, in my opinion he’s as good as he was this time last year. He’s had no hiccups all year and he’s where I’d like him to be,” he said.

“I just hope he gets a clear run, if he runs as well as he ran last year or the year before, I’d be delighted. If he finishes in the first three or four, I’d be over the moon and if he wins, I’d be ecstatic. He’ll go on any ground but the softer the better.”

Thursday

The meeting opens with a bang with the unlucky Gold Cup runner A Plus Tard likely to face Shishkin and Conflated in the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Steeple Chase over three miles on Thursday.

On his plans for other runners at Aintree, Elliott said: “Conflated is going for the Bowl. He is in good form and ran very well in the Gold Cup. We are looking forward to running him.

“Gerri Colombe goes for the Mildmay Novices’ Chase. Not that he needs softer ground, but I just think he is an awful lot more effective with a bit of dig.

“Sire Du Berlais and Teahupoo both go for the Liverpool Hurdle. Sire Du Berlais turns up once or twice a year and is the horse of a lifetime, we are very proud of him.

“Zanahiyr has come out of Cheltenham very well and goes for the Aintree Hurdle. He seems to be enjoying taking his time a little bit and we are looking forward to running him. He would have gone close last year when falling at the last.”

Found A Fifty, Irish Point, Absolute Notions and are likely to run in the Gradde 1 novice hurdles.