Harry Skelton to ride for Paul Nicholls in Grand National as top trainer firms up Aintree jockey plans

Harry Skelton has been snapped up to ride Threeunderthrufive in the Randox Grand National as Paul Nicholls seeks to firm up jockey arrangements for his five-strong team in the Aintree showpiece.

The trainer behind 2012 National hero Neptune Collonges revealed stable jockey Harry Cobden would partner Kandoo Kid, considered the yard's best chance, while leading French-based rider James Reveley was being lined up for two-time Grade 1 winner Bravemansgame. 

Conditional Freddie Gingell will have his first ride in the race aboard Hitman, while Stay Away Fay could also be Aintree-bound depending on his performance in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Skelton's booking in the £1 million race could stop the jockey's brother Dan winning a first British jumps trainers' championship if victorious. Threeunderthrufive, who is owned by Max McNeill and his family, is a 33-1 chance at Aintree after finishing an encouraging second in his warm-up at Ascot this month.

Harry Skelton famously rode Politilogue to Champion Chase glory for Paul Nicholls in 2020Credit: Mark Cranham

"Max is quite excited to see Threeunderthrufive in the National and Harry Skelton will ride him – that's a provisional booking at the moment," Nicholls said. "Dan [Skelton] hasn't got anything in it and it'd be quite ironic if he won and got us £500,000 for winning in the trainers' championship.

"I'd say he's in the best shape he's ever been, he's been fourth in the Scottish National so stamina won't be an issue. He's another exciting one to run."

Kandoo Kid will return to Newbury for his Aintree prep-run in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup (3.45) this weekend. It will be a first start since his Coral Gold Cup victory in November and he is 20-1 for the National with Paddy Power.

Nicholls said: "I'd like to think Kandoo Kid is probably our best chance but who knows as we've got five nice horses. Harry [Cobden] will ride Kandoo Kid ,which says it all, he's a Coral Gold Cup winner and jumped fantastic around Aintree last year.

"He's entered on Saturday at Newbury over two and a half miles and I'd probably let him run now the ground is soft. It's just a sharpener, we're better off running in a £100,000 race than going for a gallop. The weekend will be all about getting a run into him."

Nicholls, speaking at a Jockey Club-organised media event, highlighted his strong Aintree team headed by Pic D'Orhy in the Melling Chase. He will bid for a record-extending seventh win in the Bowl with Stage Star, while Rubaud is being lined up for the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase after his victory in Saturday's Pendil at Kempton.

4.00 Aintree, Randox Grand National (April 5)

Paddy Power: 7 Inothewayurthinkin, 9 Intense Raffles, 10 Nick Rockett, 12 Iroko, I Am Maximus, 16 Stumptown, 20 Kandoo Kid, Perceval Legallois, Meetingofthewaters, 25 bar

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