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Stuart Edmunds' Grand National dream for talented mare dashed

Marsh Wren and delighted connections - including Ben Turner (fourth from left) - after her victory at Thurles
Marsh Wren: a prolific mare for owners the Far Bihoue Partnership and trainer Stuart EdmundsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A potential plan to target the Randox Grand National with Mares’ Chase third Marsh Wren has been shelved after Stuart Edmunds felt it would be a race against time to get her to Aintree following a setback.

The prolific Marsh Wren has been successful in nine of her 15 starts and was a 16-length winner over Apple Away in a Listed mares’ chase at Market Rasen in November.

Marsh Wren, whose rating of 147 was high enough to make the cut for last season’s Grand National, has been on the sidelines since that success after damaging a pedal bone.

The nine-year-old, whose owners the Far Bihoue Partnership is headed by former Cardiff and Coventry centre back Ben Turner, did not feature among the 90 Grand National entries on Tuesday but could run later in the spring and will stay in training next season.

Edmunds said: “She’s been out of her box for the first time this morning after having a badly bruised foot and bone. She damaged her pedal bone but her latest scan was good and she’s just back in work.

“The timescale very much limits us on where we can go. The Grand National was in our thinking, but we don’t feel ten weeks will be long enough to get her ready. We’ve not made a plan yet and she needs soft ground. She’ll be staying in training next season, which is great.”

Edmunds is working back from Aintree with some of his other flagbearers, including Arizona Cardinal. He is being aimed at a repeat Topham bid following his success in the race over the National fences last season. 

Trainer Stuart Edmunds
Stuart Edmunds: working back from the Topham with last year's winner Arizona CardinalCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Edmunds took him out of the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster on Saturday after deeming the ground unsuitable and has entered him in the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh and the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

“We thought we’d give ourselves both options in case the weather takes its toll,” said Edmunds. “He ran well for a long way at Cheltenham last time. That was a test as to whether he might be worth considering for the Grand National but his stamina gave way and it told us all roads lead back to the Topham.”


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