Tom Scudamore rides Ballynagour in Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree
Tuesday 5 April 2016 19:22, UK
Tom Scudamore is keeping his fingers crossed he has made the right decision after siding with Ballynagour in the Crabbie's Grand National on Saturday.
The leading jockey, who has not been seen in competitive action since suffering a heavy fall at Uttoxeter on March 19, will make his comeback at Aintree on Thursday, when his rides include Betfred Bowl outsider Dynaste.
Scudamore is set for a big afternoon on National day, when he will reunited with brilliant World Hurdle hero Thistlecrack in the Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle before getting the leg-up on David Pipe's Ballynagour in the National.
"I'm not going to have any rides before Aintree, but I'm feeling great and can't wait to get back," said the jockey.
"I'm riding Dynaste on Thursday, but it'll be a fairly quiet day and then it will be all systems go for Friday and Saturday."
Scudamore has chosen Ballynagour over two other Pond House inmates in Soll (Conor O'Farrell), who has completed in two previous Nationals, and Vieux Lion Rouge (James Reveley).
He said: "It was a very tough decision as all three have a similar chance.
"Soll loves it round there, but is higher in the weights now, while Vieux Lion Rouge is an improving young horse.
"I went for Ballynagour as he has some very strong form with the likes of Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti and his run at Cheltenham suggested he is coming back to form."
The rider's father, Peter Scudamore, was an eight-times champion jockey, but famously never managed to win the Grand National.
Scudamore jnr is well known for showing emotion after riding a big-race winner, but he dare not even dream of landing the biggest prize of them all on Merseyside.
"I haven't even thought about it. I'm just concentrating on getting the job done," he said.
Ballynagour's owner Allan Stennett has been involved with a number of previous Crabbie's Grand National runners, most notably Blowing Wind, who he owned in partnership with Peter Deal and John Dale, and finished third in both 2001 and 2002.
Stennett said: "Ballynagour is a bit like Blowing Wind in that he has good form over shorter distances of between two and a half to three miles.
"The horse has had a problem with bleeding in some of his races but what he has shown since we have had him is that he does seem to show his best form in the spring.
"After his run in the Betfred Bowl last year, when he ran Silviniaco Conti to a head, he had me in tears. He appeared to show improved form that day, about 20lb above his handicap mark. Some people questioned the form but I pointed out that he had the likes of Holywell, Smad Place and Menorah behind him.
"After Aintree last year, he went out to France and won the Grade Two Prix La Barka. Although officially it is a hurdle race, the hurdles at Auteuil are more like fences.
"We are going to the Crabbie's Grand National with him on Saturday and the nerves are jangling! I think he goes there with a chance although the connections of the 39 other runners will be feeling the same I am sure."
Rebecca Curtis revealed Brian Hughes will be aboard O'Faolains Boy and Trevor Whelan will ride stablemate The Romford Pele.
O'Faolains Boy, winner of the 2014 RSA Chase, was seventh in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Romford Pele was eighth over hurdles in the Coral Cup and is the last horse guaranteed a run in the Grand National as the 40th on the list.
Curtis said: "I think Brian has a good record round Aintree and he's a straightforward horse. I'm delighted to have Brian riding him.
"The other horse gets in with a nice, low weight and I think the race should suit him. He'll definitely stay and he has a touch of class."
Leading owners Gigginstown House Stud are set to have three runners, with retained rider Bryan Cooper having the choice of First Lieutenant, Rule The World and Sir Des Champs.
Gigginstown Stud manager Eddie O'Leary said: "Bryan will ride one, David Mullins will ride another and we'll see who is available to ride the third horse."
Nina Carberry is not expecting to have a ride if Knock House fails to make the cut.
Carberry, who has completed the National course on four of her five rides, has partnered Mick Channon's chaser twice this season, winning at Cheltenham in November and finishing fourth in the Kim Muir last month.
However, he currently need two horses above him in the list to come out to get a run.
Carberry said: "Hopefully I'll ride him (Knock House) if he gets in. You never know how they'll take to it until they go, so we'll see."
Fergal O'Brien has resigned himself to the likelihood Grand National regular Alvarado will miss out on a place in the starting line-up.
Alvarado has finished fourth for the last two years, but the 11-year-old is number 48 on the list.
O'Brien said: "It's like complaining about the weather - it's one of those things and there's nothing we can do about it.
"That's the way it goes, you have to roll with it."
Should Alvarado not make the cut, O'Brien will aim him at the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 16.
In the new order of elimination, Kerry Lee's Bishops Road needs just one horse to come out as he is number 41 thanks to his victory in the Betfred Grand National at Haydock in February.
Dr Richard Newland's Pineau De Re, the Grand National hero two years ago, is number 46, while the well-fancied Cause Of Causes, trained by Gordon Elliott, is 49.
Robbie Dunne is excited about having his first ride in the big race.
The 31-year-old, who partners the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Vics Canvas, has enjoyed clear rounds over Aintree's unique fences on his only two attempts so far - he finished fourth in the Betfred Becher Chase in 2014 and fifth in the same race in 2015.
He said: "I'm really looking forward to riding in the Crabbie's Grand National - it's what you dream about when you first get involved in racing.
"It's any Jump jockey's dream. Riding over the Grand National fences is totally different to riding in any other race - it's a real test of horse and jockey, and a great thrill."
Jeremiah McGrath will have his first National ride on the Nicky Henderson-trained Triolo D'Alene.
McGrath commented: "He's already won over these fences which is always nice (Crabbie's Topham Chase 2013).
"He's a great jumper and he's in good form at home at the moment - he's been working and schooling well so I'm really looking forward to Saturday."
Another drying day at Aintree has seen the going descriptions tighten slightly, despite four millimetres of overnight rain at the course.
The Grand National Course at Aintree is now described as Good to Soft, Soft in places at the Canal Turn as against Good to Soft, Soft in places yesterday afternoon.
The going has also changed on the Mildmay Course and is now Good to Soft, Good in Places from Good to Soft, while the Hurdle Course remains Good to Soft, Soft in places in the home straight.
Andrew Tulloch, Regional Head of Racing Jockey Club Racecourses North West and Clerk of the Course at Aintree, said at 4.45pm: "It has been another drying day, with temperatures getting up to 12 Celsius.
"The forecast is for unsettled weather and we could have rain each day from showers, along with sunny intervals and cooler conditions.
"Showers, being unpredictable and intermittent, may deliver between two and five millimetres of rain each day.
"There is plenty of moisture in the ground after a wet winter."
