Nolan aims for National glory
Trainer travelling to Aintree
WEXFORD TRAINER Paul Nolan, fresh from his Cheltenham Festival success with Mrs Milner, was bidding for an unprecedented Grand National double this week at Fairyhouse and Aintree, although there was no joy in part one of that attempt yesterday (Monday).
His stable star, Latest Exhibition, who swerved Cheltenham, finished in fourth spot in the €400,000 Boylesport Grand National at Fairyhouse after much agonising as to what his next target should be.
He was carrying a heavy burden of 11st 10lb but Nolan was hoping beforehand his class and a bit of luck would see him through.
There was an unexpected outcome, as 150/1 outsider Freewheelin Dylan and jockey Ricky Doyle recorded a surprise win, with Run Wild Fred second and Enjoy d’Allen third.
Nolan has decided to run his great servant, Discorama, placed at three successive Cheltenham Festivals, in the Randox Aintree Grand National on Saturday, and having missed out on Mrs Milner’s triumph, Paul intends going over to Liverpool for this one.
‘Hopefully everything stays on track, and I can go there. I do intend to travel myself,’ he confirmed.
Discorama did not run at Cheltenham in March having been placed in the three previous years, the decision being to let him take on the big one.
A good jumper and a proven stayer, he is on a reasonable 10st 6lb and Nolan says he is raring to go.
This horse deserves a big success. An honest performer who always runs his heart out in top quality races, it is hard to believe that he has not actually won since his chasing debut in 2018. ‘He is due a bit of luck,’ Nolan said.
‘He’s always off the pace that little bit - you need so much luck in running when you do that. Unfortunately, so many times he just didn’t have that luck... we’d love to get his head in front, but it’s not easy with the way he runs. We’ve tried different ways of running him, but they didn’t seem to suit him.’
Paul could do with a bit of luck in this race himself. He has had just two previous runners - Colonel Rayburn in 2005 and 2006 and Joncol in 2013 - and each time they had to pull up.
‘It would absolutely be a dream come true if Discorama was able to pull it off,’ he admitted.
That dream is shared by the horse’s joint owner, Andrew Gemmell, the sight-impaired racing fanatic famously associated with Paisley Park.
‘He was not allowed to be at Cheltenham where that horse finished third in the Stayers’ Hurdle but he is looking forward to being back on course for Discorama’s run at Aintree, along with fellow owner, Thomas Friel.
‘It would be fantastic if Discorama could put on a good show at Aintree,’ Gemmell said. ‘It’s everyone’s dream to win the National,’ he told The Racing Post.
He will be hoping for double joy as the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park is due to run in the Stayers’ Hurdle on the same day as the National.