'I'm really positive about him' - O'Neill confident Cloth Cap can run big race

A wind issue prevented Cloth Cap from performing at his best when favourite for last year’s Randox Grand National and Jonjo O’Neill is confident he can show his true colours in the big race on Saturday week.

Cloth Cap, who races in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, was pulled up when a leading fancy for the Aintree contest last year having made a noise in the race, leading to wind surgery the following week.

The ten-year-old, who will be partnered by regular rider Tom Scudamore, has ran creditably this season, including when third in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster this month, and is 33-1 with Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power.

He returns off a 1lb lower mark compared to last year when he was officially a stone well in after winning the Premier Chase at Kelso once the weights had been announced.

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O’Neill, who won the race with Don’t Push It in 2010, said: “I’m very happy with him and he’s not done too much wrong this season – he ran well early in the season, flared up an old injury at Ascot and ran well last time at Doncaster. Tom was delighted with him at Lambourn on Thursday and he’s looking forward to riding him.

“His wind cut out in the race last year – we got that sorted straight away and I don’t see him any different to last season when he went off favourite. I’m very happy with his preparation and really positive about him. He has to have good ground – it would catch him out if it’s on the softer side.”

Easysland (left): the mount of Jonjo O'Neill Jr in the Grand National next weekCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

O’Neill will also run 2020 Glenfarclas Chase winner Easysland, who will be ridden by the trainer’s son Jonjo Jr. A best-priced 80-1 with William Hill, Easysland has been pulled up in three starts for the yard since arriving from David Cottin in France, including last time in the cross-country event at the Cheltenham Festival – a race he finished second in the previous year.

O’Neill said: “He also had a pop over the National fences at Lambourn and I’m happy with him. He’d had problems before he joined us and I thought the Cross Country Chase had sparked him back into life as he was going great, but he just went out like a light. I can’t put my finger on it and nothing has come to light since.

“There’s nowhere else to go with him and he’s in great form so we might as well have a go – stranger things have happened.”

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