Vicente’s treble hopes are built on solid ground

SEVEN days after suffering the bitter disappointment of his mount Blaklion being brought down at the first fence in the Grand National at Aintree, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies will try to make history on Vicente in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Should Vicente land the richest race run in Scotland with its £215,000 prize-money, he would become the first horse for more than a century to win for three consecutive years. The last was Couvrefeu II from 1911 to 1913.

Twiston-Davies said: ‘For Vicente to do it would be huge. Hopefully, we will get a bit further than Blaklion. A lot of preparation, a lot of thought and a lot of hard work had gone into Blaklion so when the Grand National ended at the first fence it was hard to swallow.’

The warm weather has boosted Vicente’s chances as it has significantly dried out the track. The Paul Nicholls-trained horse was a late withdrawal at Aintree because it was too soft.

‘Good ground is the most important thing and this will be the first time this season he has had it,’ Twiston-Davies, 25, added. ‘There are a lot more positives than negatives.’

The drying ground will also suit another grey, Fagan, and he could also play his part in a racing first.

The eight-year-old represents the team behind last week’s Aintree hero Tiger Roll — trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Davy Russell.

If Fagan wins he would make Elliott the first man to train the winners of the English, Scottish and Irish Nationals in the same