Grand National

Trainer Nicky Henderson recently stated that Shakalakaboomboom’s preparation had gone perfectly and the trainer believes that his charge has a decent weight. Another bonus is that stable jockey Barry Geraghty is likely to be on board. Geraghty has as good a record as any jockey currently riding with a win and four placed rides in the last ten years. Geraghty also enjoyed a wonderfully successful Cheltenham Festival. Shakalakaboomboom wasn’t particularly setting the world alight in his novice year over fences having been well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival and when stepped up into open handicap company for the Topham at [...]

Sunnyhillboy was spectacular when winning the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and Jonjo O’Neill’s charge will look to use that success as a springboard to Grand National glory. Ballabriggs showed when using the race as a springboard that it is an ideal trial for this race and if he can take to the Aintree fences then could well be a leading contender come the last couple of fences. His third place finish in the 2011 Irish National showed he can deal with the extreme distances and so the 4m 4f distance shouldn’t be a problem. Sunnyhillboy [...]

Junior has run over the jumps for three different trainers in Brian Meehan, Alan King and now David Pipe – and he seems to have rekindled the horse’s enthusiasm. Had started to look slightly uncooperative during his time with Alan King and despite winning twice in his novice year over fences connections were probably disappointed with what he achieved considering he was a 143 rated hurdler. The move to Pond House certainly seemed to stoke the horse up with Pipe gaining an excellent win from the horse on the flat at Royal Ascot. Junior then returned to action over obstacles [...]