Grand National weights: Ted Walsh ‘absolutely shocked’ after Any Second Now given joint Aintree top-weight | Racing News

Trainer Ted Walsh was left “absolutely shocked” after Any Second Now was handed the top weight for this year’s Randox Grand National at Tuesday’s weigh-in lunch.

The 11-year-old has finished third and second at Aintree in the last two updates of the most famous steeplechase in the world and will bid to make it third time lucky in the welter weight of 11st 12lb next month, after the same weight is officially opened in. annual event in Liverpool.

Walsh recalls teaming up with his son Ruby to claim Grand National glory with Papillon in 2000, but feels Any Second Now will have to be an “outstanding horse” to add his name to the roll of honour.

“All I can say is I know he’s not Red Rum, I know he’s not Crisp and he’s not L’Escargot, so make up your own mind,” the coach said.

“I was really surprised because he had the highest weight. He was so good like last year. .

“I think he would have to be an incredible horse to win at the top weight.”

Reflecting on his previous Nationals win, Walsh added: “Winning with Papillon was great. Winning the Nationals is an amazing moment, but having your son makes it even sweeter.”

Any Second Now is joined at head of weight by Gordon Elliott’s 2022 Irish Gold Cup winner, Conflated and Shark Hanlon’s American National hero, Hewick, who will both compete in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.

Below the trio at 11st 11lb are Conflated’s stablemate Galvin and last year’s winner Noble Yeats, trained by Emmet Mullins.

The latter was last seen finishing third in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and is now on the course for the Gold Cup before his intended bid for back-to-back wins on Merseyside.

Mullins said: “I can’t complain with a rating of 166. It’s 19 lb more than last year which would be asking a lot, but it seems to have progressed well this year and we know he’s taking to the fence.

“He’s a horse for the course and fingers crossed he can put up a bold show.”

Noble Yeats would become only the second horse – after Golden Miller in 1934 – to win the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same year.

Mullins, though, didn’t get ahead of himself. “It’s definitely a one-off race,” he said. “You don’t think about awards but if he is lucky enough, he will get the awards he deserves.

“It’s special to have a horse run in that type of race, the Gold Cup or the Grand National, but to have a horse that you know is good enough to compete at the end of the business – that’s the fun part and what keeps the yard going.

“I will say that it is not yet complete, even now. Winning the National in our first attempt at the race, it is probably lost on me how much goes into and how many other years people have tried to win. race and did not succeed, so I will say I’m a bit spoiled and it’s hard to understand what happened. I’m sure it will hit me that day.”

Mullins also had The Shunter (10st 11lb) owned by JP McManus, adding: “This [weight] the right thing. He’s still not qualified, I think, in the distance, so he could potentially go in next weekend.

“I had two or three races scheduled before the deadline and, fingers crossed, I picked the right one and qualified.

British Horseracing Authority’s handicap chaser Martin Greenwood is the man responsible for making the weight and is very happy with the power in this year’s update.

He said: “This year we are well at the top end for horses rated in the 150s and 160s and there are some very good horses entered, including last year’s Noble Yeats winner.

“Noble Yeats is about 20lb more than last year, but his form this season in the Graded races is the reason. The three horses above the handicap – Conflated, Any Second Now and Hewick – you’d think they could all do well. to open and it’s a very positive thing that the quality of the race at the top end of the handicap is also up to standard.

“There are no horses that have caused any special difficulties this year – all the horses are easier.”

With Henry de Bromhead announcing his retirement from 2021 winner Minella Times, a total of 77 horses remain in contention. Greenwood suggested the rating needed to make the final pitch was “around 142 or 143”.

There are three horses rated 142 in Eva’s Oskar, Rapper and Recite A Prayer, which is number 57 on the list. Noble Yeats is the 10-1 favorite with William Hill, who have reduced the chances of Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler (10st 5lb) and the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Incredible (10st 4lb).

Spokesman Lee Phelps said: “Anything Now looks hard to do better than last year’s second place and as a result he has reduced his odds to 20-1 from 14-1.

“On the flip side both Corach Rambler (14-1 from 16-1) and Mr. Incredible (20-1 from 25-1) have been cut by our traders.

“Corach Rambler represents the yard at Lucinda Russell who has won races recently and remains invisible over the long journey, which seems fitting.

“Mr. Incredible could be the first string of Willie Mullins to win it all and not be seen on the lawn.”