Many Clouds fires a big National warning

MANY Clouds boosted his already strong claims for back-to-back victories in the Crabbie’s Grand National with an impressive display in the totepoolliveinfo.com Premier Chase at Kelso’s rearranged meeting from last weekend.

The Oliver Sherwood-trained nine-year-old was promoted to clear favourite for the Aintree spectacular on April 9 after he comprehensively dismissed the opposition at the Borders track.

Winning for the first time since Aintree last April, Many Clouds hardly gave his supporters an anxious moment as the Trevor Hemmingsowned gelding put in a superb exhibition of jumping.

Once Leighton Aspell kicked on, the 11-10 favourite was in command and scored by 10 lengths from fellow National hopeful Unioniste.

Bookmakers reacted by making Many Clouds clear favourite, between 8-1 and 10-1, to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win the National two years in a row.