Shutthefrontdoor laid out for Crabbie's Grand National
Friday 3 April 2015 17:16, UK
Owner JP McManus says Shutthefrontdoor has been "laid out" for the Crabbie's Grand National all year.
McManus was speaking to RTE Radio One to promote 'Team Limerick Cleanup' in his hometown, and he was assisted by Tony McCoy and Ireland's successful Six Nations captain Paul O'Connell.
Shutthefrontdoor won the Irish National for McManus and Jonjo O'Neill last season, only running once since, and has the honour of being McCoy's final ride in the race.
"Shutthefrontdoor and Cause Of Causes represent us in the Aintree Grand National and they both go there with good chances," said McManus, who provided McCoy with his sole National winner of the race in Don't Push It.
"Shutthefrontdoor will be ridden by AP in his last ever Grand National and he has been laid out for the race all year.
"He seems to be in good form and, with luck in running, he could give a good account of himself."
Nick Scholfield is set to partner Spring Heeled for trainer Jim Culloty. Scholfield, who was third on Teaforthree in 2013, schooled the eight-year-old over fences at Culloty's stables in County Cork this morning.
"He felt in good order. We did 12 fences in total and he jumped well," said Scholfield. "It looks like I'll be riding Spring Heeled and I think he ticks all the right boxes you need for a National horse, so I'm looking forward to it."
Scholfield had been originally pencilled in for Sam Winner, but Paul Nicholls' charge is not a certain runner after he was pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The ride on Spring Heeled became available after Robbie McNamara switched to former Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere when connections dispensed with the services of jockey Davy Russell, who would now have missed the ride through injury.
