HARRY SKELTON: Grand National Day

We head into the final day of Aintree with another group of live chances, including Panic Attack in the Grand National, writes HARRY SKELTON.

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SATURDAY

AINTREE

MIRABAD & BE AWARE – 12:45pm Aintree

I ride Be Aware in the opener. He blew out at Cheltenham Festival, which was obviously disappointing, and he can be a bit headstrong at times. He tends to settle better when he’s in front, and with a slightly smaller field here, we can hopefully let him roll and find a good rhythm.

If he puts his best foot forward, he’s definitely got a chance, but mentally he can be a little fragile, so it’s about everything falling into place for him on the day.

We also run Mirabad, and hopefully he can put a below-par run behind him. I think the ground was just a bit too gluey for him that day, he prefers it either a bit softer or a bit quicker. If he can bounce back and pick up some prize money, we’d be pleased.

SUPREMELY WEST & ACE OF SPADES – 1:20pm Aintree

Supremely West was a good winner of the Pertemps and has come out of Cheltenham Festival in good form. He’s in here with a solid chance again.

The handicapper has had his say and put him up, but hopefully he hasn’t quite caught up with him yet. He stays the trip well, so I’d like to think he can be thereabouts once more.

We also run Ace Of Spades, with Sam Twiston-Davies on board. He’s had a good season and has gone up the weights as a result. Whether the handicapper has caught up with him now remains to be seen, it looked that way at Cheltenham, but hopefully he can still run a solid race.

BOSSMAN JACK & SOLDIER REEVES – 1:55pm Aintree

Bossman Jack ran really well at Cheltenham Festival, and but for a bad mistake at the last, I think he would’ve gone very close. With that run under his belt, we can look to ride him a bit more prominently this time. If he puts in a clear round, I think he can be right there at the finish. He’s a horse with plenty of ability and hopefully still improving, so you’d like to think there’s more to come from him.

Soldier Reeves has had a good year. We waited to step him up in trip, and going to Cheltenham Festival brought out plenty of improvement, he was strong through the line.

We’ve always felt he was a stayer, and he’ll benefit from a strong gallop. If the race is run to suit, hopefully he can be right in there with a chance.

MR HOPE STREET – 2:30pm Aintree

He was held up a little over Christmas, so we had to take things a bit easy with him for a while. He ran okay last time at Sandown, although the trip was probably on the sharp side for him.

Stepping up to three miles now should suit much better, even if he’s still a bit inexperienced. We were keen to get him into this race last year and just missed out, so it’s nice to be back here with him. Hopefully he can go and run a really good race.

TAKE NO CHANCES – 3:05pm Aintree

Take No Chances has been ultra-consistent and has hardly run a bad race. She ran well again at Cheltenham Festival and continues to hold her form nicely.

She does have a few pounds to find with the top ones, but she gets the mares’ allowance and stays the trip well. If she can nick some prize money, we’d be delighted.

PANIC ATTACK – 4:00pm Aintree

Panic Attack lines up in the Grand National, and it’s brilliant to have another ride in such a special race. I genuinely feel she’s the best chance I’ve had going into it.

Her last run at Cheltenham Festival was probably just a bit sharp for her, but she stayed on strongly through the line. I know it’s been a long time since a mare has won the race, but that can always change, Magic Of Light showed what’s possible when finishing second in 2019. Hopefully, Panic Attack can go one better.

She’s had a fantastic year. She’s a solid jumper, stays well, and is very tough, she’s relentless and never knows when she’s beaten, so she ticks plenty of boxes. If she gets the trip, hopefully she’ll be right there at the finish. As a kid growing up, this is the race you dream of winning.

FORTHFACTOR & COOLTOBECARELESS & RISKY OBSESSION – 5:00pm Aintree

In the bumper, I ride Risky Obsession. You can put a line through his last run, the ground was very testing at Newbury, and we just didn’t know if he’d handle it. He didn’t, but we know that now. Back on better ground should suit him much more. He won well at Warwick and seems in good form at home, so if he can reproduce that, he should be in the mix.

We also run Forthfactor, who ran well at Ascot in a Listed bumper. Heidi Palin takes the ride, she knows him well, having ridden him twice, and he’s definitely one with a chance. He’s had a break over the winter, so he’s one to keep an eye on.

Tristan [Durrell] rides Cooltobecareless, who won a bumper at Fakenham and improved nicely from his first run at Chepstow.

So, three very nice horses that we’re looking forward to going over hurdles with in time, but for now, I think they all have a chance of running well here.

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