Rachael Blackmore is expected to be aboard Valseur Lido in Saturday’s Grand National, making two female jockeys now set to take part in the famous Aintree marathon. Blackmore, who is currently second in the race to be champion jockey in Ireland, will join Lizzie Kelly in the race, Kelly having already been booked to partner Tea For Two. No woman rider has won the National, though Katie Walsh rode the third-placed Seabass in 2012.
Valseur Lido is the last remaining National entrant for Henry de Bromhead, for whom Blackmore rides as first jockey, following the withdrawal on Monday of Sub Lieutenant. De Bromhead confirmed Valseur Lido as an intended runner and said: “His form’s a little bit in and out but probably one of his best runs in the last 12 months was in the National last year, so we’re hoping the fences will bring the best out in him.
“I thought he was running well at Cheltenham, Rachael was really happy with him and then he made a desperate mistake about five out and that just took him out of the race completely. His third in the Bobbyjo before that was a great run, we were delighted. He’s in great form.”
De Bromhead added: “I’m pretty sure Rachael is going to ride; we just haven’t finalised plans.” Speaking for the owners, Gigginstown Stud, Eddie O’Leary said: “The ride on Valseur Lido is Rachael’s if she wants it.”
Blackmore had a first tilt at the National last year, on Alpha Des Obeaux, who was tracking the leaders when he fell at the Chair. Valseur Lido was eventually well held in eighth place under Keith Donoghue but he had been a close fourth at the home turn and his stamina may last longer this time, as he has dropped down the weights by 12lb and will appreciate the better ground. The betting market, however, appears to view him as a back-number and he is on offer at 100-1.
A variety of different coloured caps will once more be needed to distinguish between the Gigginstown-owned runners, as there are likely to be seven in Saturday’s National. O’Leary said Davy Russell will be on Tiger Roll, maintaining last year’s winning combination. Jack Kennedy is to be offered his pick of the remaining five, Monbeg Notorious, Dounikos, A Toi Phil, General Principle and Blow By Blow.
Lingfield 2.00 Swiss Pride 2.30 Birkenhead 3.00 Creek Harbour 3.30 Moongazer 4.00 Field Gun 4.30 Singing The Blues 5.00 Raashdy (nb)
Musselburgh 2.15 Alminoor 2.45 Fillydelphia 3.15 Merhoob 3.45 Love Dreams 4.15 Maulesden May 4.45 Silver Dust 5.15 Astraea
Wolverhampton 5.25 Ursus Belle 6.00 Krystallite 6.30 Star Ascending (nap) 7.00 Blood Eagle 7.30 Queen’s Soldier 8.00 Arlecchino’s Leap
Gordon Elliott, who trains six of Gigginstown’s seven, has a total of 12 horses in the top 40 of the Grand National weights. He has said that Mala Beach needs the ground to be softer than the current “good to soft, good in places” but he may get his wish, as there is rain forecast for Aintree this week. The record for most National runners from a single stable is 10, set by Elliott’s mentor, Martin Pipe, in 2001.
Those taken out of the race on Monday included Ms Parfois, who is reported to be lame. Yala Enki was perhaps the most surprising withdrawal. The absence of Daklondike will be a relief to officials, in light of his bad behaviour at the start of last month’s Eider Chase, when he refused to race. There was some official confusion as to the elimination order of horses at the bottom of the weights but it has now been announced that Captain Redbeard is assured of a place in the National line-up, as he is 40th in the list.
Bless The Wings had been 40th in the list published earlier on Monday but he now needs one of those above him to be withdrawn in order to get into the race. Joe Farrell, last year’s Scottish National winner, needs two to come out. The hopes of their connections were dented when Warrior’s Tale and Valtor were confirmed as intended runners, following signs that they might run in the Topham on Friday instead.
