ONE TO SAVOUR
TWO leading Grand National hopes will try to get their seasons back on track later this month.
Lucinda Russell’s 2017 Aintree hero, One For Arthur, and Sue Smith’s Vintage Clouds could clash in the Peter Marsh Chase on January 19.
One For Arthur only got as far as the third fence in the Many Clouds Chase over the Mildmay course last month after being sidelined through injury since his National triumph.
He is also entered in the Classic Chase at Warwick a week tomorrow but Russell says that marathon contest, which he also won in 2017, may come too quickly.
Should that three-mile five-furlong handicap come too soon, the 10-year-old could head to Haydock.
She said: “He cantered a couple of times on Wednesday. We kept him going over Christmas and new year. We’re getting a little bit tight for the Warwick race now.
“I don’t know whether he’ll go there or whether he might now go to Haydock instead. We’re just going to get him back as best we can.”
Vintage Clouds was pulled up in last month’s Welsh National at Chepstow having previously made a winning return at Haydock.
Smith said: “Vintage Clouds is fine. Danny
Cook said he was not happy on the ground at Chepstow. He goes through wet ground, but he doesn’t enjoy holding ground.
“I really do think he does enjoy being on better ground, though. He might have an entry in the Peter Marsh at Haydock later this month but the ground is key to him.
“It would be lovely to have the horse run a very big race for Mr (Trevor) Hemmings in the National.”
Meanwhile, tributes were paid last night to dual Classic-winning trainer Bill Elsey who has died aged 97.
The Yorkshire handler trained Pia to win the Oaks in 1967 and Peleid to win the St Leger in 1973. They were the highlights of a career which started when he took over the licence from his father Charles at Highfield Stables in Malton in 1961.