Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth What A Friend to be aimed at the Grand National at Aintree
What A Friend, who ran a cracking race to finish 11 lengths fourth to Long Run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the recent Festival, looks set to take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National on April 9.
The eight-year-old, who is set to carry 11st 6lb at Aintree, disappointed on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock in November and looked a difficult ride when edged out by stable companion Noland when sent off odds-on for the Aon Chase at Newbury in February.
However, the gelding, part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, returned to something akin to the form which enabled him to land two Grade 1 races last season when fourth in the Gold Cup, and Paul Nicholls’ charge is a top-priced 25-1 with Paddy Power for the National.
Nicholls, on his Betfair blog, said: ‘As we suspected, better ground and blinkers saw him post a much improved effort in the Gold Cup. He could run in the Totesport Bowl but on good ground he is highly likely to run in the Grand National.’
Stable jockey Ruby Walsh has rode What A Friend just once in his 10 starts over fences, which was at Aintree when he landed the Totesport Bowl in 2010. The Irishman has a conundrum now. Indeed, Nicholls has another leading contender for the Liverpool spectacular, Niche Market, while he could also partner the Willie Mullins-trained The Midnight Club, who currently heads the Grand National betting.
The Midnight Club was promoted to favouritism with most firms after landing the Bobbyjoe Chase at Fairyhouse in February. On that occasion he had Oscar Time five lengths adrift in third. The latter, runner-up in last season’s Irish National, is also prominent in the betting for the Aintree race and will be meeting The Midnight Club on 4lb better terms when they renew rivalry on April 9.
One horse whose odds have contracted notably recently is Backstage. Gordon Elliot’s gelding, who was in touch when unseating rider at the twentieth fence in last year’s National, has warmed up for another tilt at the world’s most famous steeplechase by landing a couple of open points. The nine-year-old is no bigger than 16-1 at the time of writing for Aintree.