Kildare native Leighton Aspell will be hoping to create history today when he takes to the saddle of Many Clouds in search of a third English Grand National victory in a row. No other jockey has ever managed to win the iconic race three times in a row, and Aspell became the third person to win two grand nationals in a row since World War II when he rode the same horse to victory last year.
Many Clouds will go off as favourite in today’s race, and the Oliver Sherwood trained eight-year-old is getting some strong backing in the betting markets. Aspell was on board Many Clouds last month when the pair stormed to an impressive 10-length victory in the totelivepollinfo.com Premier Chase in Kelso, so the indications are that the Trevor Hemmings owned gelding is in good form.
One former Grand National winner from Kildare who won't get the chance to add to their title wins this evening is Ruby Walsh after he suffered a hairline fracture to his wrist during a miserable day at Aintree yesterday. The Kill native suffered a bad fall from 1/5 favourite Vautour in the JLT Melling Chase, before falling again while on board Blood Cotil in the Crabbie's Topham Chase.
Trainer Willie Mullins, who Walsh was set to ride for today, initially hoped that the veteran jockey would still be able to ride Sir Des Champs today, but Mullins tweeted last night to say that Nina Carberry would take the seat on Sir Des Champs, while Paul Townend would be on board Yorkhill and Douvan.
Unfortunately Ruby does not ride tomorrow. @ninacarberry will ride #SirDesChamps & @PTownend will ride #Yorkhill & #Douvan
— Willie Mullins (@WillieMullinsNH) April 8, 2016
Curragh-based trainer Sandra Hughes has just one entrant among the 87 horses listed for entry in the 4 mile 4 furlong race. Golden Wonder is here sole representative, though he is a massive long shot with odds of 100/1 being the shortest offered on the 10-year-old. Ryan Loughran has been on board for Golden Wonder’s last number of races, but he has pulled him up twice in his last three runs, so his form is hardly ideal heading into such a marathon race.
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