Grand designs for Kildare’s finest
O’Sullivan and Walsh hoping for Aintree National glory
A FATHER and son, Ted and Ruby Walsh, have trained and ridden the winner of the Grand National; a mother and son, Jenny and Mark Pitman, almost did it, but a husband and wife?
No, not yet. although Carrie Ford was a respectable fifth on Forest Gunner for her husband, Richard, in 2005.
At Aintree next Saturday, sporting immortality beckons for Kildare Mr and Mrs, Ross O’Sullivan and Katie Walsh, who team up with Baie Des Iles for a crack at the world’s most famous race.
This is O’Sullivan’s first runner in the National and he will give a leg up to wife Katie, who already holds the highest place finish in the race for a woman – third on dad Ted’s Seabass in 2012.
To add to the angles, Baie Des Iles is bidding to become only the fourth grey to win the National, the first mare since Nickel Coin in 1951, and the first seven-year-old since Bogskar in 1940.
A further talking point is the owner, Zorka Wentworth, born in England of Kosovan and Serbian parents, who is married to Charles Vernon Wentworth, a millionaire scion of a family of aristocrats dating back to the Domesday Book.
Could the stars be in alignment next Saturday on Merseyside? O’Sullivan is immersed in racing long enough to know the great certainty is its uncertainty. But he has reason to believe his wife and horse have as good a chance as most in the four-and-a-half-mile marathon which carries a prize-fund of £1m.
It’s not being fanciful either, rather an assessment of his horse’s form, proven stamina, ground preference, and a canny pilot on board who has negotiated 148 out of 150 fences in five Aintree attempts.
O’Sullivan admits he gets nervous watching Katie racing, and Saturday will be no different. ‘Even if she’s riding for different trainers, I’d hope it all goes well for her and she comes back in one piece.’
Where the National is concerned, amateur Walsh has a record comparable to any of the pro jocks, and O’Sullivan is rightly proud of her CV.
‘She’s the highest placed lady rider in the National, third on Seabass in 2012, and 13th on him the next year. She’s got around on two other occasions so she’s plenty of experience of the fences which will help,’ he said. ‘I’ll leave it to Katie to find room at the fences and get into a rhythm. I imagine the plan will be to pop around the first circuit, try and avoid trouble, and ride your race after that.’ In Baie Des Iles, the O’SullivanWalsh axis have a steely mare whose season has been mapped out with next Saturday in mind. ‘She’s the only mare in the race, and she’s relatively young at seven,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘She was bought from France where she was jumping fences at the age of three so she’s the experience of a nine-year-old. ‘She’s in great form. She’s had her final piece of work at the Curragh where she jumped the Aintree-style fence there. She’s in bubble-wrap now until we head over on Thursday,’ added the trainer, who points to his horse’s strong background in marathon races.
‘She’s a decent record in distance chases, fifth in the Welsh National, sixth in the Irish National last year. She’s won an Irish National trial and was third in the race this year,’ he added. ‘She’s pretty laid back. She went to Chepstow for the 2016 Welsh National and took it all in.’
This season, there have been just three races for Baie Des Iles, and an eight-week breather since the last, which was the National Trial Chase at Punchestown on February 11.
It was a deliberate strategy by O’Sullivan, shaped by the preparation for last year’s winner One For Arthur, who also ran three times before a break ahead of Aintree.
‘Getting to Aintree fresh worked well for One For Arthur and we hope it does for us too,’ he said.
The form of that Punchestown race is glowing in rude health as Baie Des Iles was third to Folsom Blue and Isleofhopendreams, who both went so close at
Fairyhouse in the Irish National last Monday. ‘The form certainly looks solid,’ acknowledged O’Sullivan, who has another cause to feel optimistic of a big show from his grey next Saturday in the likely state of the ground. ‘Initially, we looked at the date of the National, April 14, and we were concerned the ground might be on the good side but the way it’s looking now, there’s likely to be plenty of cut which will suit. The more rain, the more it’s in her favour.’ If things don’t improve, there is talk of another ‘Red Marauder year’, like 2001 when only four out of 40 runners completed – two of whom, Papillon and Blowing Wind had fallen and remounted. The Papillon connection is impossible to ignore in the O’Sullivan-Walsh household. Old ‘Pappy’ won the great race for Ted and Ruby in 2000 and died last May in Ted’s field in Kill at a venerable 26. O’Sullivan lives next door to Walsh Snr and their horses share the same gallops, although he stresses the yards are two separate entities. Has he asked Ted for a word or two on the secret to Aintree success? ‘Ted is always there to give advice. His Grand National record speaks for itself with a first and third.’ Ted joyously led in Ruby after wins in the Irish National (Commanche Court) and Aintree Grand National (Papillon) but should his youngest daughter pass the post first on Saturday it might, one suspects, crown a lifetime in racing.
For O’Sullivan, Saturday is his second tilt at National glory this month, following Call It Magic’s gritty effort at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
‘For a few moments turning in I thought “this could happen” but a few others quickened on him and he finished seventh, which was very respectable,’ the trainer admitted.
Should Baie Des Iles – who carries just 10st 7lb and is around 40-1 – deliver for O’Sullivan and Walsh on Saturday, there won’t be a dry eye on Merseyside.
Sure, you’d have to call it magic.
4 Katie Walsh has completed the Grand National four times, with a best of third place in 2012