RACING NEWS:SYNCHRONISED REMAINS a possible for the John Smith's Grand National following his game victory in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, was among 59 horses left in the Aintree spectacular on April 14th at the latest scratchings stage.

He is 8 to 1 favourite with Betfred to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win the two biggest chasing prizes in the same season.

“He’s been left in but we’ll wait until nearer the time before we make any decisions,” said Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus. “He was tired for a day or two after Cheltenham, which you would expect as it was a marvellous performance.

“But Jonjo is pleased with him now and we’ll wait a week or two before we decide what to do.”

The same owner and trainer won the National with Don’t Push It in 2010 and could have another leading hope in Sunnyhillboy, who was also a winner at Cheltenham last week in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

“He’s also come out of the race good. He’s in the National and the Irish National and he’ll probably run in one of those. Nothing is set in stone yet,” Berry added.

Synchronised heads the weights on 11st 10lb, with last year’s winner Ballabriggs on 11st 9lb.

Betfred make Prince De Beauchene the 9 to 1 second favourite and he is one of six left in from Willie Mullins’s stable and one of 23 Irish-trained entries still in the race.

On His Own, winner of the Thyestes Chase for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie, and Gold Cup ninth The Midnight Club are among Mullins’ other entries.

Other Irish-trained contenders include the progressive Seabass, trained like the 2000 winner Papillon by Ted Walsh, and the 2011 Irish Grand National hero Organisedconfusion, the likely mount of Nina Carberry.

The Gold Cup form is also represented by fourth-placed Burton Port, the seventh Midnight Chase and Weird Al, who was pulled up.

Malton trainer Malcolm Jefferson saddled a double at Cheltenham last week and he paraded his National hope According To Pete at Aintree yesterday.

Other leading contenders include the David Pipe-trained Junior and the Alan King-trained West End Rocker, who has not run since winning the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase over the National fences in December.

Philip Hobbs has withdrawn Fair Along but intends to run Planet Of Sound.

“Fair Along will probably run in the Scottish National instead. Planet Of Sound will definitely run providing everything goes all right,” the Minehead trainer said yesterday.

Others among the 18 withdrawals were Massini’s Maguire, Hold On Julio, Niche Market, Stewarts House and Backstage.

Raring to go: Gannon makes full recovery

CATHY Gannon has been given the all-clear to return to action on Friday after being sidelined for five months with a broken leg.

The Irish-born rider suffered a fractured right femur when unseated from Forever Janay on the way to the start at Nottingham in October.

The injury brought a premature end to what had been her best-ever season with 71 winners.

“I’m allowed to go back race-riding on Friday, so I’m all ready to go,” she said. “I saw the specialist this morning at the Radcliffe and I’ve been given the all-clear for Friday. It’s healed up well. My agent Neil Allan is trying to get me a ride or two and I’m looking forward to it.

“I had a great season and loads of rides, a lot of winners and was riding for a lot of different trainers. I was getting my name about and it was a good year.

“It was one of those things that happens. It was a simple fall, but unfortunately I fractured my femur so I’ve been out for five months now. I was frustrated, but I’m happy now I’m over it and raring to go.

“I’ve been riding out for the last six weeks for David Evans and Mick Channon and really been getting stuck into it in the last few weeks. I just have to get race-fit now.”