Walsh opts for Limerick Lace over ‘gamble’ Meetingofthewaters
PAUL TOWNEND will be on board I Am Maximus and Mark Walsh has opted to partner Limerick Lace after owner JP McManus finalised riding plans for his fivestrong team in Saturday’s Randox Grand National. The celebrated owner has enjoyed two famous victories in the world’s greatest steeplechase, memorably providing AP McCoy with an elusive first success aboard Don’t Push It in 2010 before the historic triumph of the Rachael Blackmore- ridden Minella Times three years ago.
McManus is set to be well represented once more at Aintree this weekend, with Irish Grand National hero I Am Maximus and his Willie Mullinstrained stablemate Meetingofthewaters his two shortest- priced runners.
William Hill yesterday suggested the latter, third in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month, could even go off favourite following a “massive gamble”, but with Townend in the saddle on I Am Maximus, the owner’s retained rider in Ireland, Mark Walsh, has interestingly sided with Gavin Cromwell’s Mares’ Chase heroine Limerick Lace.
Confirming riding arrangements, McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “Paul is on I Am Maximus, Mark is on Limerick Lace and Danny [ Mullins] is on Meetingofthewaters.
“Mark has never ridden I Am Maximus, so Paul will ride him. Mark had a difficult decision to make as he liked Meetingofthewaters at Cheltenham as well. It was a difficult decision, but he’s gone with the mare anyway, so he’s hoping she’ll get the trip.”
Berry said Keith Donoghue had been booked to ride Cotswold Chase winner Capodanno, while Jody McGarvey will do the steering on Janidil.
He added: “They’re all going there in good form, they’ll need a bit of luck in running on the day in the National
as everyone knows, but hopefully they’ll give a good account.”
Hills make last year’s winner Corach Rambler their 9- 2 favourite, with I Am Maximus 7- 1 and Meetingofthewaters only a point behind at 8- 1 after being cut from 10s.
Spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “The money started coming in for Meetingofthewaters last week and it has not stopped. Make no mistake, this is a massive gamble, and we’ve been forced to take more preventative action, cutting Willie Mullins’ runner to 8- 1 from 10- 1, having been as big as 14- 1 less than a week ago.
“Most people would have expected last year’s winner Corach Rambler to go off favourite, but if this gamble continues at its current rate we think there’s a good chance Meetingofthewaters could be favourite come Saturday race- time.”
The well- fancied Kitty’s Light, a 14- 1 shot with the same firm, appears almost certain to make the cut after Gordon Elliott revealed top- weight Conflated will instead run in the Melling Chase on Friday.
Conflated was one of 13 Elliotttrained horses still in contention for the event following the confirmation stage on Monday, but owners Gigginstown
House Stud later said the prospect of running under 11st 12lb on testing ground over four and a quarter miles was a major concern.
The 10- year- old was also entered for Thursday’s Aintree Bowl over three miles and a furlong, but was not declared on Tuesday morning and is instead set to run over two and a half miles the following day.
“We had the option of the Aintree Bowl and the Grand National, but with the ground going the way it is we are going to run in the Melling Chase on Friday instead,” Elliott said in a stable tour for Attheraces. com.