Lucinda’s out to make history
ONE FOR ARTHUR has an amazing opportunity on Saturday to become only the second Scottish-trained horse to win the Aintree Grand National.
Lucinda Russell’s eight-year-old bids to become the first Scots’ winner since Rubstic triumphed for John Leadbetter 38 years ago.
Owned by Scotland rugby star John Douglas and ridden by Maurice Barnes, he wore down Zongalero on the long run in at 25/1, in a race when only nine got round.
Stamina was his trump card and there seems little doubt that One For Arthur will stay every yard as the final preparations to his meticulous build-up are completed in Milnathort.
The son of Milan has been campaigned sparingly this season, with Aintree very much in mind. He has won twice and been fifth once in a season which started at Kelso in October.
There, he was six lengths too good for Scotswell. The pair of them were 18 lengths clear of the rest over three-anda-quarter miles, staying on stoutly up Kelso’s long straight.
Crucially, he was then given a taste of the awesome Aintree fences in the Becher Chase last December, where he was fifth – but beaten only three lengths by Vieux Lion Rouge.
The race notes that day make good reading: “Held up in rear, headway 17th, stayed on well from two out, going on at finish”.
Just the kind of performance to allow connections to dream realistically – with their fair share of good fortune – of a triumph on racing’s biggest stage.
It was on to Warwick for the final prep race in January – three miles, five furlongs over 22 fences – where One For Arthur was held up as usual by Derek Fox.
He shrugged off being hampered at the second fence in a Grade 3 £ 34,000- to- the- winner event, made smooth headway at the 18th and forged six lengths clear to the line.
The winner at Aintree has gone on to win a similar race at Haydock, and the runner- up at Warwick, Good to know, was a seven-length winner at Hereford for Kerry Lee next time.
There will be a photo- finish in the camp before Saturday’s ITV screened National, for regular pilot Fox broke a wrist and collarbone at Carlisle, just three-and-a-half weeks ago.
Intensive treatment at Jack Berry House has the trainer confident he will make the deadline. Keeping the partnership intact would be an integral part of the long-term plan.
Vieux Lion Rouge is the 11/1 favourite, One For Arthur can be backed at 14/1 and, at 33/1, Jimmy Moffat’s Highland Lodge – second at Aintree in the Becher – represents value.
GRAND NATIONAL (Aintree, Saturday 5.15). NAP – One For Arthur (14/1). VALUE HUNT – Highland Lodge (33/1).