Rambling Minster is among 106 horses going forward for the £900,000 Grade Three John Smith’s Grand National, following the first scratching stage.
A maximum field of 40 can line up for the world’s most famous steeplechase on Saturday, April 4.
Totesport, the official betting partner of the John Smith’s Grand National, rates the Keith Reveley-trained 11-year-old a 16/1 chance for the four and a half mile showpiece following an impressive victory in the Grade Three Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock Park on February 14.
Reveley revealed today: “The plan now is to go straight to Aintree for the John Smith’s Grand National. Rambling Minster’s win at Haydock last time was brilliant - he galloped, jumped and travelled really well. That was probably a career best performance at the age of 11, which is amazing.”
Rambling Minster, who has 10st 1lb in the handicap and was also victorious this term in an extended three and a quarter-mile handicap chase at Cheltenham on January 1, is already a “National” winner, having taken the Borders National at Kelso in December, 2007.
Reveley continued: “He’ll definitely stay the distance at Aintree. He won a Borders National on heavy ground over four miles, one furlong, so the trip won’t be a problem. A bigger concern would be the 39 other horses all travelling flat out over those massive fences - you need luck in running to have any chance.
“It was heavy at Haydock last time but he will go on any ground and I personally believe his preference is for good ground, even though he will handle a bit of cut. In his younger days we always thought of him as a good ground horse, so we’ll take more or less anything.”
Reveley’s son, jockey James Reveley, enjoyed a first success over Aintree’s famous fences at the Northwest Racing Masters in November, when guiding Endless Power to victory in the ToteSuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase. He is looking to continue his successful partnership with Rambling Minster on the first Saturday in April.
The Cleveland trainer commented: “James has been doing well and is improving all the time. He has already managed to have a winner over the Aintree fences so that experience will stand him in good stead. It is a good partnership, the horse jumps well for him and they seem to suit each other.
“We just need to be 100 per cent on the day, keep away from any bugs and such like along the way and then pray for loads of luck on the day. That’s all we can do.”
Also among those going forward for the John Smith’s Grand National are totesport’s current 12/1 market leaders, Butler’s Cabin, victorious in the 2007 Irish Grand National, and Black Apalachi. The latter won the Grade Two Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 21 for trainer Dessie Hughes and showed his aptitude for the Grand National fences when winning the totesport.com Becher Chase at the Northwest Racing Masters in November.
Butler’s Cabin is trained by Jonjo O’Neill for owner J P McManus. The duo, seeking an elusive first John Smith’s Grand National triumph, could also run the progressive Can’t Buy Time (20/1).
Last year’s winner Comply Or Die (16/1) is in line to bid for a repeat victory for trainer David Pipe, who could also saddle Madison Du Berlais (16/1), victorious in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup this season and conqueror of Denman at Kempton on February 7.
Last year’s sixth Cloudy Lane (25/1) is being primed for another attempt by trainer Donald McCain, while the O’Neill-trained top-weight Exotic Dancer (25/1) holds his ground, as does the 2007 hero Silver Birch (33/1), who returned to action when victorious in a point-to-point at Nenagh on February 7, before being pulled up at Bennettsbridge point-to-point on February 22.
The past two winners of the Welsh National, Notre Pere (2008) (16/1) and Miko De Beauchene (2007) (33/1) are still on target, as is the Paul Nicholls-trained Big Fella Thanks (16/1) despite the seven-year-old finishing third when favourite to the impressive Nacarat in the Racing Post Chase on February 21. Nicholls also has leading hope My Will (16/1) and Eurotrek (50/1).
King John’s Castle (25/1) took the runner-up berth last year for trainer Arthur Moore and is being prepared for another tilt, while fellow Irish trainer Mouse Morris is hoping to saddle last season’s Irish Grand National victor Hear The Echo (14/1) and 2006 totesport Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition (25/1).
The Willie Mullins-trained Snowy Morning (20/1) clinched third in the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National for trainer Willie Mullins, whose brother Tom Mullins could saddle Chelsea Harbour (25/1) in a bid to improve on that contender’s ninth place last year.
Hot Weld (25/1) won both the Scottish Grand National and Sandown Gold Cup in 2007 for trainer Ferdy Murphy, who could also saddle 2007 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner L’Antartique (50/1).
A total of 30 Irish-trained horses remain on course for the John Smith’s Grand National as Ireland bids to carry off the prize for the seventh time in 11 renewals.
