DAVY RUSSELL blog: GRAND NATIONAL DAY

Grand National day was always and will always be a special day from me. Listen, plenty has been written and said about Tiger Roll over the years and he gave me two very special days here. As I said at the time of his retirement, there will never be one like him and he is certainly the horse of my lifetime (CLICK HERE FOR MY TIGER ROLL MEMORIES). I’m lucky enough to be riding in the big race again and I’m looking forward to partnering Run Wild Fred, again for Gordon (Elliott). If you’ve some time watch the Zoom Room we recorded earlier in the week where I recall some early Aintree memories together with thoughts on Saturday’s Aintree card CLICK HERE.

Anyway, I’ve also got a nice ride to look forward to in Three Stripe Life in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. Here are my thoughts on both my rides and the other big races…

SATURDAY

AINTREE

1.45pm

No ride for me in the really wide-open looking three mile handicap hurdle that kicks-off the day. Winter Fog is likely to be popular again on the back of his good fourth in the Pertemps in Cheltenham. He’s another 1lb higher but looks sure to run his race again. You can get big upsets in this race and if the rain comes again then look out for The Cob in first time blinkers off a very workable mark.

THREE STRIPE LIFE 2.25pm (Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Grade One)

I was delighted with the way Three Stripe Life ran in the Ballymore at Cheltenham where we just bumped into Sir Gerhard again. We got within three lengths of him over this extended trip with nine lengths back to the third. I guess the reason we are here is because he isn’t and that has to be a huge plus. This does look a good race though with Nicky Henderson’s Walking On Air taking the step up in class having looked really good in Newbury on his debut. He missed Cheltenham so comes here fresh but has to prove he’s up to this level. Colonel Mustard ran well behind State Man in the County and is another to fear stepping up in trip.

3.00pm (Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase – Grade One)

More Grade One action and it will be interesting to see how Edwardstone (pictured below) gets on here on the back of his really impressive Arkle success. Third Time Lucki has locked horns with him a couple of time this season already without any joy. I suppose he missed Cheltenham so comes here fresh, but Edwardstone will be tough to beat. A bigger threat could be Gentleman De Mee who has been impressive in two recent starts. He’s another who comes here fresh having missed Cheltenham, but you have to think Willie (Mullins) fired his strongest bullets at Edwardstone in the Arkle and came up short.

3.35pm (JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle)

Flooring Porter was brilliant in Cheltenham the last day (pictured) and there is no getting away from the fact that he will be hard to beat if in the same form here. Thyme Hill and Champ are both back to have a crack at him and won’t be far away. Sire Du Berlais was a bit disappointing in Cheltenham but is good on his day, while I can see Koshari running well at a big price. He won at the track earlier in the season and may surprise a few again.

4.15pm

This is always a good handicap, although this year there looks a bit of a blot in Shan Blue. He isn’t far off a Grade One horse and remarkably gets in here off a mark of 148. I was surprised they didn’t opt to go down the handicap route at Cheltenham and instead take on Allaho in the Grade One Ryanair Chase – that was never going to end well. He’s in much calmer waters here and should be hard to beat. At a bigger price I can see Tea Clipper going well if things dry out a bit. He ran well in Cheltenham and this track should suit a bit more.

RUN WILD FRED 5.15pm (Randox Grand National)

I’m looking forward to getting back on Run Wild Fred in the big one. Gordon is set to saddle seven in the race and he has plenty of chances I’d say. Obviously, Delta Work looks the obvious one on the back of a serious run in Cheltenham. He’ll stay and wouldn’t mind a bit more rain. The same can be said of Death Duty who is very effective when the ground goes bad. I know that Gordon has a soft spot for Mount Ida and is keen on her chances. I know she jumped a bit to her right in Cheltenham but she is better than she showed that day and is a good stayer. My fella should go well. He ran well behind Stattler in Cheltenham and that may just be very good form. He jumps well and the trip should be no bother as he was second in an Irish National. Looking at the other stables and there are dangers everywhere. You have to fear everything that Martin Brassil runs in handicaps and his Longhouse Poet will surely go well. I’ve also a feeling that Lord Du Mesnil could run well too for Kielan Woods.

Good Luck
Davy

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