After pulling off a triumphant triad at the Aintree on Friday under Grade One, the JP McManus team is fired up and in excellent shape for the Aintree Grand National. In the exciting two-mile hurdle event, McManus’s Mystical Power, who boasts a distinguished lineage, managed to secure the grand prize for Willie Mullins. Inothewayurthinkin, another member of the team, trailed his victory at the Cheltenham’s Kim Muir with an elite win for Gavin Cromwell in the Mildmay Chase.
In the well-known green and gold colours, Jonbon, part of Nicky Henderson’s roster, effortlessly mastered his initial venture into 2½ miles within the Melling Chase, celebrating his third continuous victory at the Aintree festival.
With Mystical Power, sired by Galileo and the winner of the 2016 Champion Hurdle, Annie Power, demonstrating the importance of a strong bloodline, McManus will keep his fingers crossed for the similar quality to be inherent in Limerick Lace at the National. Inothewayurthinkin, Limerick Lace’s younger sibling, is being predicted as a strong contender, with odds quoted as low as 10-1, for next year’s Cheltenham Gold, following his resounding victory over Iroko, despite making a few jumping errors.
McManus pinned his hopes on Limerick Lace, who is among his five National prospects, with her odds plummeting after he divulged backing her by 25-1. Despite his previous advice about staying silent, his openness attracted a horde of attention. Limerick Lace had previously come out on top in the Cheltenham Festival and is managed by Cromwell, hoping that Mark Walsh chosen as the jockey made the right choice from McManus’s National roster.
Cromwell expressed his contentment with Limerick Lace’s condition, noting her good performance post-Cheltenham. He cited her recent victory of her full brother as a positive sign for the upcoming stamina demand and voiced hopes that her jumping prowess would hold her in good stead.
The race was marred by a touch of melancholy with the sad news of Giovenco’s fatal injuries sustained from a fall at the final fence.
McManus is presented with five opportunities in the National, expressing his support for Limerick Lace with an expansive 25-1 each way, for what he considered an attractive odd. However, he admitted his vital dependence on I Am Maximus. With a plan by Willie Mullins to snatch victory in the Grand National followed by the Gold Cup, its an exciting time.
Taking a risk earlier than expected proved to be a successful move for Mark Walsh, his horse Mystical Power demonstrated pure tenacity to beat Gordon Elliot’s Firefox by merely half a length. Mulling expressed his joy of procuring a Grade One with him. Having Rich Ricci as a shareholder, who had also owned the mare, the victory meant significantly more. He emphasized the importance of the mare having a Grade One winner.
The potential of champion trainer, James Du Berlias was overshadowed by Arizona Cardinal’s climactic pass in the final moment, despite appearing as a likely Topham victor. The depth of his strength was signified by Dancing City’s win in the Sefton Hurdle.
After Riding Tommy Wrong was unable to run, Paul Townend switched to riding Dancing City, bagging him his second Grade One for the season.
Mullins said about Dancing City, “His performance today has been a long time coming. We thought of selling him on several occasions, but it’s apparent that he needed time to realise his potential. He will certainly make an interesting novice chaser.”
Re-emphasizing his father’s advice to be patient, Mullins shared how this helped him understand that some horses just need time to develop. The double-win by Mullins has once again decreased his odds to clinch the British trainers title.
He also commended Paul Townend’s performance, suggesting that it was critical to their success. Despite believing the game was lost, Townend’s persistence saw them through.
In other news, the persistent rain has resulted in the cancellation, well in advance, of the flat fixture at Limerick due to take place next Saturday. Officials running a National Hunt fixture at the same course next Friday are hoping for better weather.
Horse Racing Ireland unveiled definite plans to organise a Curragh meeting next Saturday (April 20th) to make up for a previously cancelled event. In addition to an already scheduled programme for the coming Sunday, the upcoming weekend will offer additional excitement at HQ. Also, to compensate for a meeting that was called off due to waterlogging on Tuesday, a card is set to take place at Navan on May 7th.