Rocco carries National burden
● O’neill’s charge is top weight for Aintree
Jonjo O’neill feels Minella Rocco has all the attributes to make his mark in the Randox Health Grand National after he was left at the head of the weights following the second forfeit stage.
Runner-up to Sizing John in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, the JP Mcmanus-owned gelding was in line for another crack at the blue riband before being declared a non-runner on account of the conditions.
O’neill’s eight-year-old is an intended runner in the Aintree spectacular on 14 April and will carry the welter burden of 11st 10lb after the original top weight Definitly Red, Irish Gold Cup hero Edwulf and Outlander were all scratched.
O’neill said: “The ground got very heavy [at Cheltenham] and, as we all know, he’s got a wind problem and that ground wouldn’t help him, so we saved him for here. So long as we get good ground, we’ve a good chance.
“He’s won over four miles, so he just has to get another half a mile. Top weight isn’t ideal, but that’s the way it is and he’s a big horse, so hopefully he can carry it.
“He jumps well and keeps galloping, so the National was always at the back of my mind.”
Second on the list behind Minella Rocco is ante-post favourite Blaklion, who is now on 11st 9lb after the weights were raised 3lb. The nineyear-old is a best-priced 12-1 to provide trainer Nigel Twiston-davies with a third National success following the victories of Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002).
The Irish challenge is headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Total Recall (11st 4lb), who was still in contention when falling three fences from the finish in the Gold Cup on Friday.
Tiger Roll (10st 12lb) emerged as a leading contender for Gordon Elliott by winning the Glenfarclas Chase around Cheltenham’s cross-country course.stablemate Cause Of Causes (11st 1lb) disappointed in the same race when bidding for a fourth Festival success, but was runner-up in last year’s National.
In today’s action, Acker Bilk can get back to winning ways for Keith Dalgleish in the Betway Casino Handicap.
Only four go to post, but it is a tight contest. However, the Dalgleish runner has more scope to improve than most.
He has gone up the weights without winning of late but hopefully first-time cheekpieces can bring about more improvement.
Horses who like the Fibresand at Southwell are worth sticking with so Mister Music should be followed back up in class in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap. Tony Carroll’s nineyear-old has enjoyed a great few weeks at the Nottinghamshire venue, winning his last three starts there.