Aintree Festival: LATEST NEWS

We’ve captured the key Aintree stories in snappy bullet point format from 10 days before the Festival so you can keep in touch, at a glance.

Paul Nicholls is fielding a five-strong army in the Grand National in an attempt to keep the trainers’ title.
Colin Tizzard expects Cue Card to “run a big race” as he bids to win the Betway Bowl Chase for the second year running.
Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air aims to emulate Annie Power 12 months ago by following up at Aintree.

Mouse Morris feels the pressure is off as he prepares to fire a twin assault on Saturday’s Randox Health Grand National.
Derek Fox is thrilled to be making his competitive comeback at Carlisle just three days before his Grand National debut.
Buveur D’Air will face just five rivals when he bids to follow up in the Betway Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Barry Geraghty admits “it’s a tricky one” as he ponders between More Of That and Cause Of Causes in the Grand National.
Carlingford Lough and Ziga Boy have both been ruled out of Saturday’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
Unowhatimeanharry is not certain to head to Aintree despite featuring amongst 21 entries for the Liverpool Hurdle.

Trainer David Pipe believes Grand National favourite Vieux Lion Rouge “ticks a lot of the boxes” ahead of Aintree on Saturday.
Ian Williams is considering options for his Imperial Cup winner London Prize. Williams said: “He has come out of Sandown really well and is in very good form. He could possibly go to Aintree on Saturday for the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.
Apple’s Jade could yet take on Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air in what would be a fascinating clash in the Betway Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Buveur D’Air heads a stellar list of 10 entries for the Betway Aintree Hurdle at the Liverpool course on Thursday after the Grade One contest was reopened.
The owners of Cheveley Park Stud have purchased leading Randox Health Grand National contender Highland Lodge.
Last year’s winner Cue Card is one of 10 entries for the Betway Bowl at Aintree next Thursday.

David and Patricia Thompson, the owners of Cheveley Park Stud, have purchased leading Randox Health Grand National contender Highland Lodge.
Barry Geraghty will wait as long as possible before deciding on his mount for the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
Gordon Elliott said: “We are not going to have too many runners at Aintree, probably fewer than in recent years. We have still to finalise our team and we will sit down in the next couple of days and put our heads together to make final plans.”

Jamie Codd is hoping On The Fringe will be revitalised by a return to Aintree when he bids to win the Randox Health Foxhunters’ Chase for the third successive year next Thursday.
Derby-winning jockey Martin Dwyer is thrilled to have been granted a jumps licence so he can ride at Aintree next week.
Merseyrail insists trains will run between Liverpool city centre and Aintree on Grand National day despite a planned walkout by drivers and guards.

The Young Master’s co-owner Robert Waley-Cohen is hopeful of a big Grand National run with son Sam onboard. He said: ”We would have preferred it if he had finished third at Cheltenham, as he did last season, but his run was fine. He seems to be a spring horse and runs well at this time of year, so hopefully that will continue at Aintree.”
The Willie Mullins duo of Ballycasey and Alelchi Inois head the weights for the Topham Chase at Aintree next week.
Barry Geraghty will have to wait a few more days before finding out whether he will be given the all-clear to return for Aintree.

AINTREE 2017

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