Elliott chasing historic treble at Ayr
GORDON ELLIOTT relies upon Fagan in a bid to complete a remarkable Grand National hat-trick at Ayr this afternoon. The title-chasing trainer landed a first Irish Grand National with General Principle on Easter Monday before Tiger Roll provided him with a second success in the National at Aintree.
Fagan appears to have strong claims in the Scottish equivalent, having been off the track since chasing home leading staying novice Black Corton at Cheltenham in October.
‘He’s in good form and the better the ground the better chance he’ll have,’ said Elliott.
Davy Russell, aboard Tiger Roll on Merseyside, takes the ride.
The veteran rider gave up his rides at Fairyhouse on Thursday evening as he was feeling unwell, but said: ‘I think I’ve just had a touch of flu or a chest infection or something. I should be fine for Saturday.
‘He (Fagan) is a little bit inexperienced but hopefully he’ll run a nice race.’
Last year’s Irish National winning pilot Robbie Power has his first ride in the Scottish National aboard Colin Tizzard’s Sizing Tennessee, who was last seen finishing third in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He said: ‘He ran a cracking race in the four-miler on ground that was softer than ideal for him.
‘Maybe he didn’t quite get up the hill at Cheltenham, but Ayr is a flatter track and hopefully on better ground he’s got a live chance.
‘I’ve never ridden in the Scottish National, but I’d never ridden in the Gold Cup (which he won aboard Sizing John) until last year either, so hopefully it’s a lucky omen.’
Paul Nicholls believes Vicente has a ‘massive chance’ of becoming the first horse in over a century to win three consecutive renewals of the Scottish Grand National. Couvrefeu II is the only horse to have achieved the feat between 1911-13.
Vicente has failed to complete on his two most recent outings and was pulled up when last seen at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, connections sidestepped Aintree in favour of a potentially historic hat-trick bid at Ayr. And with the ground turning in his favour, Nicholls is in confident mood.
‘He’s fine. He went up to Aintree last week as we were thinking of running him but the ground went against him,’ said the Ditcheat handler. ‘It’s amazing what a difference a week makes and the more it dries, the better for him.’
Other leading hopes in a 30strong field include Neil Mulholland’s Doing Fine, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyoptic and Nicky Henderson’s Gold Present and Beware The Bear.