Munster Express Online

The race that stops the entire sporting world takes place in Liverpool this Saturday in the form of the one and only Aintree Grand National. Sponsored by John Smith’s, the four and a half mile spectacular is scheduled to get under way at 4.15 and it could well happen that there will be an Irish-trained winner in the form of Black Apalachi.

The Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi significantly already has Aintree experience for he was still leading the field in last year’s Grand National when stumbling and unseating at Becher’s Brook second time round (Fence 22). The son of Old Vic additionally won the 2008 renewal of the Becher Chase at Aintree by no less than a distance.

This season, Black Apalachi has been witnessed in a quite positive light for he finished second to his stable companion Vic Venturi last time out in the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase over three miles one furlong at Fairyhouse on February 20th. Black Apalachi, who was conceding Vic Venturi all of five lbs, was ultimately beaten eight lengths on that occasion with the pair finishing fully a distance clear of the third-placed One Cool Cookie.

That run is bound to have put Black Apalachi spot on for Aintree and the likely good/soft ground will ideally suit. A worry though is that Black Apalachi will have to shoulder 11-6 on Saturday. The last horse to carry a weight of something like that magnitude to victory was the Frank Gilman-trained Grittar with 11-5 back in 1982.

Black Apalachi will be re-united with Denis O’Regan, who partnered him at Liverpool 12 months ago.

On Wednesday evening, Youghal native O’Regan said: “Of course, I’m looking forward to riding Black Apalachi again. He’s a grand spin to get and hopefully we will get further than last year. ”

It’s the same every year, but there are any amount of horses with chances on Saturday and the class horse of the field appears to be last year’s National winner Mon Mome. Venetia Williams’ Mon Mome carried 11 stone to victory last year when springing a 100/1 surprise with jockey Liam Treadwell.

Mon Mome has just seven lbs more to shoulder this year and he posted an excellent effort by finishing third to Imperial Commander and Denman on his most recent start in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Whilst Mon Mome was ultimately beaten some 30 lengths altogether at Cheltenham, the reality is that very few horses in the National line-up would be able to get within that distance of Imperial Commander and co at level weights.

Ballyholland is one that must also enter into the equation. The Colin McBratney-trained gelding was catapulted into the general racing public’s consciousness by winning last year’s Galway Plate with Andrew McNamara at odds of 16/1.

There was no fluke about Ballyholland’s Ballybrit victory for he beat Knock On The Head by eight lengths. The Tiraaz-sired gelding made a winning return to action in a two-mile novice hurdle with Ruby Walsh at Naas on January 19th whilst he then finished seventh to Snowy Morning in a handicap chase over an unsuitably short two miles one furlong at Leopardstown on February 28th. Ballyholland looks likely to give a positive account of himself at a decent each-way price.

If there’s a forgotten horse, it’s surely Preists Leap. This Thomas O’Leary-trained gelding won back to back runnings of Gowran Park’s Thyestes Chase in 2008/2009. The canny O’Leary then despatched the Luso-sired gelding to Liverpool for last year’s Grand National. Whilst Preists duly returned a distant 14th of the 17 finishers behind Mon Mome, the reality is that he ran much better than this would indicate for he was challenging for the lead on the approach to the second last. Admittedly, Preists Leap hasn’t set the world on fire this season and he was never competitive on his most recent start when finishing a poor 13th of the 16 runners behind A New Story in the Cross-Country Chase at the Cheltenham festival last month.

All in all, another most competitive National. If you can at all, get to Liverpool on Saturday. The atmosphere Merseyside way is in a word ‘Electric’. Regardless of whether it’s possible to be present on Saturday make sure to row in behind Black Apalachi and he’s taken to lead home Mon Mome, Ballyholland and Preists Leap. Don’t say you were not warned!

There’s also a top-class support card at Aintree on Saturday and Khyber Kim stands out in the Grade 1 John Smith’s Dick Francis Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Khyber Kim posted a truly stellar effort when chasing home Binocular in last month’s Champion Hurdle at Aintree, being beaten some three and a half lengths altogether with Zaynar a further six lengths adrift in third spot. This relatively flat course is bound to play to Khyber Kim’s strengths and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge is taken to show a clean pair of heels to Celestial Halo.

Bergo has won his three most recent starts and the seven-year-old looks set to continue on his merry way in the Grade 1 John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase, a race that’s also likely to concern Cheltenham festival winner Pigeon Island.

Donald McCain’s Peddlers Cross, yet another Cheltenham festival scorer, is the clear class act in the Grade 1 John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle and the David Pipe-trained Seven Is My Number should bounce back from a couple of disappointing efforts by showing a clean pair of heels to Rare Bob in the John Smith’s Handicap Chase.