Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Walsh can add to Papillon win
ANY Second Now can provide Irish trainer Ted Walsh with another famous victory in the Grand National at Aintree.
It is 21 years since the heavilybacked Papillon brought the house down when winning the world’s most famous steeplechase for Walsh, ridden by his son Ruby.
And a couple of decades on, Any Second Now will line up with a not dissimilar profile – both having proved able to win at a high level over just two miles before heading to Aintree.
Walsh’s current National hope won the same Grade Three contest that Papillon landed at Naas en route to his Aintree triumph, in February of last year, but was of course denied a trip across the Irish Sea 12 months ago after the coronavirus outbreak forced the 2020 race to be called off.
Any Second Now’s first few starts of this season were nothing to write home about, but he has been trained for one day and one day only – and could hardly have been more impressive in beating the high-class Castlegrace Paddy in the Webster Cup at Navan last time.
While that victory was again over just two miles, the JP McManusowned nine-year-old has proven stamina, having won the three-miletwo-furlong Kim Muir in the Festival at Cheltenham two seasons ago.
Hot favourite Cloth Cap is a huge danger, but backing a horse in a Grand National at 4-1 makes little appeal, while former Irish National winner Burrows Saint and the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Minella Times are others to consider.
However, Any Second Now – also a Grade Two winner over hurdles – appears to possess the perfect blend of class and courage, and a bold bid is anticipated if he takes to the famous fences.
My Drogo has been impressive in everything he has done to date, and can give the formidable team of Dan and Harry Skelton a Grade One to go with their hundreds of other winners this season in the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
Sent off a 50-1 shot on his debut in a bumper at Cheltenham in October, My Drogo has since won all three races over hurdles. He hinted at his promise when winning a Grade Two on just his second outing at Ascot, where he had none other than subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory back in third.
Given his trainer views him as a potential chaser, the Cheltenham Festival was never really on the agenda this season – so he headed up to Kelso in early March for another Grade Two.
Conceding a penalty to some promising rivals, the result was never in doubt – and although he faces a different calibre of opposition here, it will take a smart one to beat him, with the step up in trip promising to bring out even more improvement.
The Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase should be something of an exhibition for Shishkin.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old has been the outstanding novice of his generation – and while fans were denied what looked a mouth-watering clash in the Arkle when Energumene was an absentee, Shishkin was an imperious winner.
If anything the long home straight on the Mildmay course should be even more to his liking.
Henderson can double up in the concluding Weatherbys nhstallions. co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, with Balco Coastal. Second in his only point-to-point, he bolted up in an all-weather bumper at Kempton by 17 lengths – and good ground should be in his favour.
The Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle is being billed as Paisley Park versus Thyme Hill round three, but there could be some mileage in taking both on with Third Wind.
Emma Lavelle’s Paisley Park had a very hard race at Cheltenham, off the bridle for more than a mile, while Thyme Hill missed that race after a setback – so he has hardly had an ideal preparation.
Third Wind, on the other hand, skipped Cheltenham to wait for this. He excels on a flat track, was not totally disgraced behind the aforementioned duo at Ascot – when the very heavy ground was not in his favour – and he is still relatively unexposed at this level.
He meets Lisnagar Oscar on 6lb worse terms, but that one took a very heavy fall at Cheltenham.
Fergal O’Brien’s Polish seemed to improve for a sounder surface at Newbury last time out, and the 7lb rise may not stop him in the EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle.
Outrage can give weight and a beating to his rivals in the Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap at Lingfield this afternoon, while Wakening is expected to carry the colours of the Queen to what would be a poignant success in the Follow Us On Twitter @WolvesRaces Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.