Coach Ted Walsh was left “completely shocked” after Any Second Now was given joint top-weight for this yr’s Randox Grand Nationwide at Tuesday’s weights lunch.
The 11-year-old has completed third and second at Aintree within the final two renewals of the world’s most well-known steeplechase and can bid to make it third time fortunate underneath the welter burden of 11st 12lb subsequent month, after the weights have been formally unveiled at an annual occasion in Liverpool.
Walsh memorably teamed up together with his son Ruby to assert Grand Nationwide glory with Papillon in 2000, however feels Any Second Now would should be an “distinctive horse” so as to add his identify to the roll of honour.
“All I can say is that I do know he is not Purple Rum, I do know he is not a Crisp and he is not a L’Escargot, so make your personal thoughts up,” stated the coach.
“I am completely shocked that he has top-weight. He goes there in pretty much as good kind as he did final yr. He’s in pretty much as good nick as he was final yr, however he is acquired top-weight so make your personal thoughts up.
“I believe he’d must be an distinctive horse to win it with top-weight.”
Hewick races clear to win the 2022 Galway Plate
Reflecting on his earlier Nationwide triumph, Walsh added: “Profitable with Papillon was nice. Profitable the Nationwide is an excellent second, however to have your son on board makes it all of the sweeter.”
Any Second Now’s joined on the head of the weights by Gordon Elliott’s 2022 Irish Gold Cup victor Conflated and Shark Hanlon’s American Grand Nationwide hero Hewick, each of whom are first certain for subsequent month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Just under that trio on 11st 11lb are Conflated’s stablemate Galvin and final yr’s winner Noble Yeats, skilled by Emmet Mullins.
The latter was final seen ending third within the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and is now on track for the Gold Cup earlier than an supposed bid for back-to-back wins on Merseyside.
Noble Yeats on his solution to profitable the 2022 Grand Nationwide
Mullins stated: “I am unable to complain with a score of 166. It is 19lb greater than final yr which can be a giant ask, however he appears to have progressed effectively this yr and we all know he takes to the fences.
“It is horses for programs and fingers crossed he can put up a daring present.”
Noble Yeats will purpose to grow to be solely the second horse – after Golden Miller in 1934 – to win the Gold Cup and the Grand Nationwide in the identical yr.
Mullins, although, will not be getting forward of himself. “It is positively one race at a time,” he stated. “You do not consider the accolades but when he’s fortunate sufficient to do it, then he’ll get the accolades that he deserves.
“It is particular to have a horse run in these varieties of races, a Gold Cup or a Grand Nationwide, however to have a horse who you already know is sweet sufficient to compete in them on the enterprise finish – that is the thrilling half and what retains the yard going.
“I’d say it hasn’t actually totally sunk in, even now. Profitable the Nationwide on our first strive within the race, it has most likely been misplaced on me how a lot goes into it and what number of different years individuals have been attempting to win the race and never succeeded, so I might say I have been spoilt a bit and it is onerous to understand what occurred. I am certain someday it’s going to hit me.”
Mullins additionally has JP McManus-owned The Shunter (10st 11lb) entered, and added: “That is [weight] about proper. He is nonetheless not certified I believe, on the gap, so probably he might need an entry subsequent weekend.
“I’ve two or three races earmarked earlier than the deadline and, fingers crossed, I choose the best one and get him certified. The intention can be to take his place then if he will get certified.”
The British Horseracing Authority’s chase handicapper Martin Greenwood is the person charged with framing the weights and is thrilled with the energy in depth on this yr’s renewal.
Minella Occasions on his solution to victory within the 2021 Grand Nationwide at Aintree
He stated: “This yr we’re doing effectively on the prime finish for horses rated within the 150s and 160s and there are a handful of excellent horses entered, together with final yr’s winner Noble Yeats.
“Noble Yeats has round 20lb greater than final yr, however his kind this season in Graded races is the rationale for that. The three horses on the prime of the handicap – Conflated, Any Second Now and Hewick – you’ll assume are all fairly prone to run and it’s totally optimistic that the standard of the race on the prime finish of the handicap is effectively as much as commonplace.
“There weren’t any horses that precipitated me any explicit difficulties this yr – they have been all roughly simple horses.”
With Henry de Bromhead asserting the retirement of 2021 winner Minella Occasions, a complete of 77 horses stay in competition. Greenwood recommended the probably score required to make the ultimate subject can be “round 142 or 143”.
Corach Rambler ridden by Derek Fox on their solution to profitable the Ultima Handicap Chase
There are three horses rated 142 in Eva’s Oskar, Rapper and Recite A Prayer, who’s 57th on the listing. Noble Yeats is the 10-1 favorite with William Hill, who’ve trimmed the percentages of each Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler (10st 5lb) and the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Unimaginable (10st 4lb).
Spokesperson Lee Phelps stated: “Any Second Now appears to have been set a tricky process to go one higher than his second-place end final yr and consequently he has been eased in our betting to 20-1 from 14-1.
“On the flip aspect each Corach Rambler (14-1 from 16-1) and Mr Unimaginable (20-1 from 25-1) have been clipped by our merchants.
“Corach Rambler represents a yard in Lucinda Russell who has received the race not too long ago and stays unexposed at prolonged journeys, which look prone to swimsuit.
“Mr Unimaginable may find yourself being the all-conquering Willie Mullins’ first string and is unexposed for the yard.”
