Nicky Henderson: “This is a better track for Champ”

UNFORTUNATELY, we don’t have a runner in this year’s Grand National which is a real shame because I rather thought that Caribean Boy was one of our strongest chances for quite some time but sadly he’ll have to sit it out.

The Grand National is a typically competitive renewal and it’s no surprise that the Irish are responsible for 50% of the field including last year’s winner Minella Times, but he is much higher in the weights this time around and he doesn’t really come into the race in the best of form. Delta Work beat Tiger Roll at Cheltenham in the Cross Country so he has an obvious chance but I’m quite keen on Fiddlerontheroof who has been in good form in a light campaign and he looks the type of horse who could enjoy a challenge like this. Snow Leopardess was very good in the Unibet Becher Chase and it would be a fairytale story if she could win bearing in mind she has already given birth to a goal – it would be remarkable if she could win for my former assistant Charlie Longston.

Nicky’s Grand National 1-2-3

1. Fiddlerontheroof  2. Delta Work  3. Snow Leopardess

6⃣ We're paying SIX PLACES on each way bets on the Grand National.

🔗 Betting: https://t.co/Qb4E6YvpPT#GrandNational #GrandNational2022 pic.twitter.com/rGUv1HNopo

— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) April 8, 2022

AINTREE – SATURDAY

1:45 H’cap Hurdle

Mill Green (Nico De Boinville)

He’s been a very reliable person all the way through and put up another good performance in the Pertemps at Cheltenham, for which he got put up 2lbs, so I wouldn’t say he’s particularly well treated but he’s very consistent, won’t mind the ground and this is his trip so he must come into it on his best form.

2:25 G1 Novices’ Hurdle

Walking On Air (Nico De Boinville)

Unfortunately we had to miss Cheltenham due to a small issue but he’s absolutely A1 now and is a horse with an extremely bright future. Nathan Brennan rides him most days and is really excited about him, as we all are, and while this is a big step up, and he’s coming into this with just one run over hurdles, he was impressive at Newbury and his dam (Refinement) stayed very well so he could be even better over this trip.

 

3:35 G1 Liverpool Hurdle

Champ (Jonjo O’Neill Jnr)

Despite winning the RSA a couple of years ago I think we are sort of coming to the conclusion that perhaps Cheltenham isn’t really his track so he’ll be more at home here and he won the G1 Novice over C/D a couple of years ago. Ground wise he’s pretty versatile and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn some of the Stayers’ Hurdle form around on this more suitable track.

 

6:20 G2 National Hunt Flat Race

Swapped (Nico De Boinville)

He got beaten in a strangely run race at Lingfield last time after winning at the same track in December, winning by eight seconds faster than the race he got beaten in! This is a typically competitive Graded Bumper but I like our horse and he has a very bright future.