HUGHES ON VICENTE
BRIAN HUGHES will partner Vicente in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old won the Scottish National at Ayr last spring but has failed to replicate that form so far this season.
However, he was recently snapped up by leading owner Trevor Hemmings, who has won the Grand National three times before with Hedgehunter in 2005, Ballabriggs six years later and Many Clouds two years ago.
The owner’s racing manager Mick Meagher said: “Brian schooled the horse this morning, they jumped well and the plan is for him to ride in the Grand National.
“On his Scottish National form he would have a very good chance.
He prefers better ground however they’re talking about a dry week next week. All’s well at the moment.”
Hughes had originally been pencilled in to ride Irish contender Maggio, but his connections have now made alternative arrangements.
James Griffin, son of trainer Patrick, said: “We knew Brian might not be available so we had Conor O’Farrell on standby.
“Conor came over last week and schooled the horse and they schooled very well, so the plan is for him ride the horse at Aintree.
“I think Conor was actually surprised how much scope the horse has as he’s not the biggest in the world.
“I’ve known Conor a good while as when he was an apprentice I was actually his jockey coach.
“He has a very good completion record around Aintree and we are more than happy to have him on board.”
■ Innocent Girl continued her excellent run of form since joining Harry Fry with a battling success at Taunton.
The eight-year-old appeared to have lost her way a couple of years ago when trained by Lucinda Russell but seems to have been reinvigorated by a spell point-topointing with Jack Barber.
She bolted up on her debut for Fry at Southwell in October and having since added to her tally with wins at Towcester and Fontwell, she was a 4-1 shot on her return from a near five-month break in the Archer Mann Supports The RNLI Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Fry said: “She’s done really well. We will keep her on the go now and hopefully she can continue the same way she’s been going.”