Second time lucky? Harrington hoping Magic Of Light can go one better at Aintree

Jessica Harrington says her Randox Grand National hope Magic Of Light will need "lots of luck" but is confident the mare has what it takes to go one better than when finishing runner-up in 2019.

The ten-year-old became Harrington's first ever runner in the gruelling 4m2½f contest two years ago and delivered a career-best effort when finishing two and three-quarter lengths behind Tiger Roll at odds of 66-1.

Magic Of Light was a lot shorter in the market to improve on that performance last year before the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is a general 25-1 joint-second favourite behind Tiger Roll to become the first mare to win the Grand National since Nickel Coin in 1951.

Magic Of Light featured alongside stablemate Jett among the 106 entries announced on Wednesday for the historic Grade 3 run over Aintree's 30 National fences, but of the pair it is unsurprisingly Magic Of Light who has Harrington most excited.

Full list of entries for the 2021 Randox Grand National

"Those are the two that will go and hopefully we are able to get them there in one piece," said Harrington. "I'm really looking forward to Magic Of Light, she’s in good form at home.

"It would be brilliant if she could [go one better]. She does seem to enjoy Aintree but you need a lots of luck if you're going to win."

Randox Grand National

Betway odds: 16 Tiger Roll, 20 Any Second Now, Burrows Saint, Cloth Cap, Delta Work, Presenting Percy, Secret Reprieve, 25 Easysland, Kimberlite Candy, Magic of Light, Potters Corner, Santini, The Conditional, 28 Le Breuil; 33 bar

Magic Of Light has mixed chasing with hurdling as she charts a familiar route to Aintree this year. After a seasonal return at Punchestown in November, she travelled to Newbury in December where she won the Listed Pertemps Network Mares' Chase for the third year in a row.

She was then denied a third consecutive victory in the Grade 2 The Warfield Mares' Hurdle at Ascot last month when she bumped into Dan Skelton's impressive Roksana, but that has not dampened Harrington's enthusiasm.

"Her preparation so far has been very good. She is what she is and she'll try her hardest, that's all I can ask for," said Harrington, who won the Irish Grand National in 2017 with Our Duke. "The only thing I would want is nice ground, I wouldn't want it to be heavy for her."

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