'You'd have to like his chances' - Jonjo O'Neill bullish about Cloth Cap

5.15 Aintree
Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 4m2½f | 7yo+ | ITV/RTV

Cloth Cap is a stone well in and his master trainer thinks he will win – what's not to like about the Grand National favourite?

Putting aside his short odds – he might go off a skinnier price than Tiger Roll (4-1) two years ago and could even eclipse Poethlyn (11-4) as the National's shortest-priced winner – Cloth Cap appears to have all the credentials for the race.

Jonjo O'Neill ended a long wait, first as a jockey and then a trainer, for National success when saddling Don't Push It to glory for Sir Anthony McCoy in 2010.

He is now represented by Cloth Cap. After winning the Ladbrokes Trophy and a prep race at Kelso, the rapidly improving could not be in better form for a first attempt over the National course.

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O'Neill has been bullish about Cloth Cap's prospects in the build-up, going as far as saying he thinks he will win, and his confidence is not wavering as the race draws ever closer.

"You'd have to like his chances," he said, "but you have to have all the luck in the world as well, as the National is the National. He's in grand form and we're delighted with him. Everything has gone to plan this season – it's nearly gone too well."

On comparisons with his previous National winner, O'Neill added: "He wouldn't be as good as Don't Push It as he was a class horse who just got beat by Denman in a novice chase one day. But they both like being turned out [in a field], so they're characters in that way."

Victory for Cloth Cap would put Trevor Hemmings out on his own as the most successful owner in National history with four victories.

It would also be a first at the 19th attempt for jockey Tom Scudamore, who would join his grandfather Michael on the roll of honour and get one over his father Peter, the eight-time champion jockey who failed to win the race.

Runner-by-runner guide: trainer quotes and ratings for the National

History-maker Blackmore on trail of another landmark success

She conquered Cheltenham, now Rachael Blackmore has her sights on breaking more records in Aintree's greatest race.

Blackmore became the first female to be crowned leading rider at the festival last month with six winners, including the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle.

Since she was confirmed to ride the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times, his odds have shortened up and such is her popularity they could contract even further as punters scour the card for her name.

Blackmore will attempt to become the first female jockey to win the National on a horse who has finished runner-up in valuable big-field handicaps at Leopardstown on his last two outings.

Rachael Blackmore has her third ride in the National on Minella TimesCredit: Michael Steele

"He's had two very nice runs in handicaps at home and seems very well," said Blackmore, who has had two previous rides in the National, faring best in tenth on Valseur Lido in 2019.

"His jumping technique is good and I wouldn't swap him. There are plenty of unknowns over this distance but we couldn't be happier with him.

"My first memory of racing is watching the Grand National at a friend's house and I remember the buzz when the race was on. The Grand National captures everyone's imagination."

Bryony Frost, fifth on Milansbar in 2018 on her first ride in a race her father Jimmy won on Little Polveir in 1989, has her second ride on Yala Enki, who had finished third in the last three Welsh Nationals in the mud.

"He gets overly excited and our main worry is the first couple of fences, but hopefully we get them under our belt and find a rhythm," she said.

"He stays and we've got to get jumping and have a bit of luck on our side. It's brilliant to have another crack at it and let's hope for a safe and positive round."

The third female to ride in this year's race is Tabitha Worsley on Sub Lieutenant.

The best National finish posted by a female jockey was Katie Walsh's third on Seabass in 2012.

Burrows could be a Saint for amateur Mullins

Not many amateur riders win the Grand National but there have not been many amateurs like Patrick Mullins, who has the plum ride on Burrows Saint.

He is the most successful amateur in history and has won a string of Grade 1 races on stars such as Douvan, Faugheen and Min for his father Willie.

But he prizes Aintree success above all else and is delighted to be on Burrows Saint, who heads Ireland's 18-strong challenge on a race the country has won in three of the last four runnings.

Mullins gets the mount as Paul Townend is injured and he said: "It's fantastic to pick up the spin on him.

"I never expected I'd get to ride one with a live chance. Ever since I was seven or eight and read a book on the Grand National this is the race I've always wanted to have a crack at. It doesn't get any better."

Burrows Saint: won the Irish Grand National in 2019Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Before winning the Topham Chase over the course on Friday, he had said: "To win one over the National fences would be a dream before I hang up my boots."

Burrows Saint won the Irish Grand National in 2019 and was singled out by his trainer as the yard's best hope for Aintree when the weights were unveiled in February.

The eight-year-old has since finished second in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and Patrick Mullins said: "He's in great form and he ticks a lot of the boxes. He's the right age, he has the right kind of weight, he's progressive, he's only had nine runs over fences and I'm really excited to be sitting on him."

Marcus Armytage was the last of just five amateurs to win the National since World War Two when scoring on Mr Frisk in 1990.

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McManus hoping one of his seven will be magnificent

Legendary owner JP McManus sends out a seven-strong battalion as he seeks a second National win after Don't Push It in 2010.

McManus's persistence was rewarded after 28 years of trying and he is going all-out to have his time again.

All bases have been covered with each of his runners hailing from different stables in Britain and Ireland.

The pick of the home team looks to be Kimberlite Candy, who has been laid out for the race, while his Irish hand, featuring Minella Times, Any Second Now and Anibale Fly, oozes quality.

Tom Lacey, trainer of double Becher Chase runner-up Kimberlite Candy, said: "I'm very happy with him and he ticks an awful lot of boxes. Quite often you'd worry about going back there, but he's done it twice now and come out the other side without any concerns about whether he'll enjoy it for a third time.

"We're all fairly confident there are no fears regarding his confidence jumping the fences."

Kimberlite Candy: has twice finished second in the Becher ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Any Second Now will be a first runner in the race since 2014 for trainer Ted Walsh, who won with Papillon in 2000.

"Everything has gone well with him in the lead up to the race," said the trainer. "We've had no hiccups and you saw what sort of form he was in a few weeks ago at Navan. I'm just hoping he can get a nice clear passage and run his race."

Anibale Fly, trained by Tony Martin, was fourth and fifth in this race in 2018 and 2019 and also finished placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same years.

McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said: "He's had a bit of a stop-start year and things haven't been plain sailing with him. We would have liked to have got another run into him.

"Having said all that, Tony is happy with him and he has run well in the race twice before so hopefully he can do so again."

Canelo (Alan King), Ok Corral (Nicky Henderson) and The Long Mile (Philip Dempsey) complete the McManus team.

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Sub Lieutenant bidding to pull off family fairytale

Mother-and-daughter team of Georgie Howell and Tabitha Worsley can hardly believe their luck as they make their first appearances in the Grand National with outsider Sub Lieutenant.

The Gigginstown House Stud cast-off was bought for £50,000 to give Worsley some Saturday rides – and there is no bigger Saturday ride than this.

Howell, who heads up the family's seven-horse operation in Worcestershire, has yet to even saddle a winner, while Worsley is unable to use her 5lb claim in a race of this nature.

But those factors mean Sub Lieutenant, who was a strong-finishing second in the 2019 Topham Chase over the National fences, is massively overpriced, according to Howell.

Georgie Howell (left) and daughter Tabitha Worsley with Sub LieutenantCredit: Edward Whitaker

"If he wasn't trained by me and ridden by a girl, people would be talking about him because he fits the right profile," she said.

"He's an out-and-out stayer these days and I think the race will suit him. I wouldn't want any other horse in the race and he's got to be good each-way value at 100-1."

Asked to describe her pre-race feelings, Howell added: "I can't believe we've got a runner in the Grand National. When the race starts, I think I'll be sitting in a corner somewhere with my hands over my eyes, and I'll just be happy when everyone's back in one piece."

After riding just 29 winners, Worsley is one of the least experienced jockeys in the field, but she did win on her only previous ride over the big fences when guiding Top Wood to Foxhunters' glory two years ago.

She said: "It's very special to do this as a family as my brother and sister-in-law will lead the horse up as well. He's got form around the fences and deserves to take his chance."

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The computer said Potters Corner – was it right?

Did the computer get it right last year? One corner of South Wales is very much hoping for the same result in the real thing in 2021.

In the midst of Covid lockdown, the virtual Grand National had the nation in thrall on this day 12 months ago. As the real Aintree was shut down, the biggest racing audience of the year watched a computer-generated imagery version of the great race.

A total of £2.6million was raised for NHS charities through profits on bets taken and there was more to celebrate down Glamorgan way as the uncannily realistic graphics had Potters Corner coming out on top – to the delight of trainer Christian Williams, watching at home with daughters Tilly and Betsy.

Potters Corner: looks very much the stuff that Aintree horses are made ofCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

His chaser was a 40-1 shot in that mythical contest but the computer algorithm knows its stuff: the winner had landed the Midlands Grand National and Welsh Grand National previously, and looks very much the stuff that Aintree horses are made of.

Each of the previous three virtual National winners went on to make the first three in the real thing and Williams, who has won a big prize on each of the last two Saturdays, is full of hope for a horse whose whole season has been geared around the National.

"We're getting more confident the closer we get to it," he said. "The yard are in form."

Potters Corner will race in blinkers for the first time and his trainer said: "We took him to Ffos Las to gallop him; we put them on and he was like a different horse. We took him to David Pipe's to school over the National fences in them and we're excited.

"It's been a stop-start season but we're flying now. It's the same with any sport or any business – it's all about confidence. When things start to go for you the trainer's confident, the jockey rides with confidence, and that seems to filter through to the horse."

If you want more on the 2021 Grand National . . .

2021 Grand National: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Grand National steamers: five horses who could shorten in the build-up

Free Grand National tips: five horses to back in Saturday's big race at Aintree

How to bet on the Randox Grand National, the world's greatest jumps race

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