Racing:Black Apalachi and Rare Bob are both on course for the John Smith's Grand National after delighting trainer Dessie Hughes at Fairyhouse yesterday. The pair are likely to have one more run before Aintree on April 14th, possibly over hurdles, after finishing second and fifth respectively behind Prince De Beauchene in the Bobbyjo Chase.
“Black Apalachi is back in the picture for the National and we’ll give him another race before Aintree, possibly in a hurdle race,” said Hughes. “I was pleased with Rare Bob. He ran a nice race. It’s quite a bit before the National, so he’ll probably have another run before then maybe in a hurdle race, too.”
However, Magnanimity is unlikely to go to Cheltenham where he holds three entries after only finishing fourth in the Bobbyjo. “I don’t think he’ll go to Cheltenham now. He ran flat enough and he’s just not sparkling,” added Hughes.
Kauto Star, meanwhile, is reported to be in tremendous shape ahead of his bid for a third Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup success next month. The only horse ever to regain the crown after adding success in 2009 to his first two years earlier, Clive Smith’s gelding has been in irresistible form this term, defeating 2011 hero Long Run in both the Betfair Chase and King George VI Chase.
Kauto Star has been unaffected by the recent coughing outbreak among some horses at trainer Paul Nicholls’ stables, and delighted connections in his
latest workout. “He’s in good form,” said Nicholls. “Clifford (Baker) worked him on Saturday morning and we’ve got three weeks to get him in tip-top form.”
His half-brother Kauto Stone is also on target for Cheltenham with the Queen Mother Champion Chase rather than the Ryanair Chase looking the more likely option after he ran too free in the Ascot Chase last time.
“He’s in the Ryanair and the Champion Chase and we’ve got to make a decision,” the trainer said. “If he ran in the Ryanair the way he did at Ascot he won’t get home so we might look at the Champion Chase.”
Nicholls is unlikely to pitch Dodging Bullets into the JCB Triumph Hurdle, even though he ran ante-post favourite Grumeti to a length and a half in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle on his debut over jumps at Kempton on Saturday.
“He ran a great race. I’ll probably go to Aintree with him. He’s a bit green and inexperienced to be going to the Triumph,” he said.