What makes the Grand National so special to you?
The race has a very long history and is a unique spectacle in the racing calendar. The setting and atmosphere are quite incredible, and the race is really something for the city of Liverpool to be very proud of. Everyone’s heard of the Grand National and it has a great following.
What sort of preparation is going on at the yard so close to the Aintree Festival?
We’ve had a little time to regroup after the Cheltenham Festival and now it’s back to normal, with everyone working hard to get the horses there in tip top shape. We’ve had a few winners recently so the yard seems in good form and the horses are running well, and we’re all just hoping for the bit of luck we all need.
How many horses have you got going to the Aintree Festival this year? Who in particular should we be keeping an eye on? Do you have any tips?
We have a strong team of horses heading to Aintree, and No Hassle Hoff purposely swerved Cheltenham for a tilt at the Grade 1 3-mile novices hurdle; he’s run well all season and deserves to win a nice race.
Three Musketeers is another who has been kept fresh for Aintree so it could be worth keeping an eye on him as he runs back over hurdles. We could have a couple of runners over the National fences in the Foxhunters & Topham chases, but nothing for the Grand National itself this year.
Do you have any tips for the Grand National?
Saphir Du Rheu ran very well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup recently and could go well for my old boss Paul Nicholls if taking to the fences, and Nigel Twiston-Davies Blaklion would have a touch of class and stays very well.
