Takingrisks gets National shot

NICKY RICHARDS-trained Takingrisks will have a shot at the biggest prize in jump racing after being given the green light to run in the Randox Grand National at Aintree on April 10. After the 12-year-old gelding, who runs in the colours of owner Frank Bird, landed the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January from Aye Right, Richards suggested Takingrisks was more likely to try to repeat his victory in the 2019 Scottish National. But the trainer, speaking after Marown gave him a 32nd winner of the season at Wetherby, said: ‘Mr Bird understandably absolutely loves the old boy and had to have a think about the Grand National. ‘But he is looking forward to it now and wants him to take his chance. ‘Takingrisks has proved he is as good as ever. I think he would have won the Rehearsal Chase again (at Newcastle in November) but Definitly Red fell in front of him and he lost a bit of concentration and a bit of ground before flying home. Then he went to Doncaster and looked as good as ever. ‘He is a proven top-class handicapper. He has won a

Scottish National, a Sky Bet Chase and the Rehearsal Chase (in 2019). He has not got a lot to prove. ‘He is a solid jumper and he has a bit of pace over the first half-mile which you need in the National. ‘You have to get the position you want and travel over the first three or four fences.’ n DODDIETHEGREAT, whose prize money is all donated to the Motor Neurone charity of former Scottish Rugby international Doddie Weir, made it two wins in two races with victory at Huntingdon for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville.