Make a Fly move and go for Anibale to win

It’ s all pointing to National glory for Irish raider

Anibale Fly can give the Cheltenham Gold Cup form the ultimate boost by winning the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree today.

Tony Martin’s Irish raider made eyecatching late progress to take third place behind the dominant duo of Native River and Might Bite at the Festival last month.

That was a classy effort and was a timely tonic after his fall in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February. Anibale Fly crashed out at the secondlast fence that day when still in contention of a place at least.

His style of running suggests he will suited by the way the National will pan out. He can be held up and will hopefully avoid trouble before his stamina and ability kick in on the second circuit.

Added to that, the JP McManus-owned gelding is proven in competitive staying handicaps, as he showed when winning the 28-runner Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Anibale Fly is eight years old, the same age as two of the last three winners – Many Clouds and One For Arthur – and therefore should be at the peak of his powers.

He may be near the top of the handicap but he is used to carrying big

TODAY’SSELECTIONS

weights and has the class to carry him through.

While his owner enjoyed National glory with Don’t Push It eight years ago, trainer Martin is well overdue a change of luck after little went the way of past runners such as Hollybank Buck, Davids Lad and Gallant Oscar.

Martin is unlikely to have a better chance of lifting the world’s greatest steeplechase than with Anibale Fly, who has what it takes to etch his name on to the illustrious roll of honour.

Away from the main event, Old Guard can take top honours in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle as he arrives here fresh after sidestepping the Cheltenham Festival.

He beat Lil Rockerfeller in the National Spirit Hurdle on his most recent outing, relishing slightly quicker ground than he had encountered during the deep winter, and he should be in the mix again if the weather is favourable.

Petit Mouchoir was simply outclassed by Footpad at Cheltenham but is the obvious choice in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase in the absence of his old rival. He got involved in a battle for the early lead in the Cotswolds and his early efforts probably took their toll at the finish, so he deserves a bit more credit than the official margin of 15 lengths that day.

The other Grade One heat on the card, the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, can go to On The Blind Side.