Grand National Horses Looking to Bounce Back After the Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Festival winners are a precious thing and there's certainly fewer of them than losers. Some racehorse trainers run their charges at the big four-day jumps meeting in the Cotswolds near Bath to bring the animals along for other races.

"Aintree Racecourse" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Mick Roche

Chief among those is the Grand National. A gruelling handicap over four-and-a-quarter miles, it is widely renowned as the world's most famous steeplechase with 30 unique fences to cross.

While horses that go well at Cheltenham are obviously prominent in the Grand National betting, some others that aren't knocked about can still go on and improve for Aintree. Here, we take a look at some of those sorts who are hoping to bounce back.

Abolitionist

Bookmakers seem to fear the combination of French-bred imports and Dr Richard Newland. The trainer saddled Pineau De Re to Grand National victory in 2014 and Abolitionist has a similar profile.

Estimating what French jumps form is worth compared to the British and Irish National Hunt scene is always difficult. While Abolitionist isn't among the first 40 Grand National 2019 runners at this stage, he is very close to making the cut and should get in, so that explains why Paddy Power have him at 25/1 for the race.

"Could Abolitionist be another Pineau De Re?" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06

Newland switched him to hurdles during Cheltenham and, although pulled-up in the Pertemps Network Final, Abolitionist is very much being laid out for the National. His Festival run over the smaller obstacles is one which savvy punters are happy to disregard.

Ultragold

Colin Tizzard had a luckless Cheltenham Festival. All three of his Gold Cup hopefuls disappointed somewhat and Elegant Escape was taken out of the Grand National with a week's less recovery time in-between the two big races this year than last.

He does have a horse in his Dorset stables that loves the Aintree fences in dual Topham Chase winner Ultragold. Although the 11-year-old is likely to be considered for a hat-trick

bid over that shorter trip come the Grand National meeting, he looks the yard's leading hope in the big one now.

Ultragold does get home over further, which he demonstrated when a fine third in the Becher Chase - another race over the fences - in December. He's guaranteed a run in the Grand National and, at 33/1, his failure to complete the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham isn't as much of a concern as it might be due to his fine course record.

Yala Enki

While running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup might have been aiming a little high, it's worth remembering that Yala Enki finished seventh and in front of the favourite Presenting Percy for trainer Venetia Williams. If a tilt at that valuable prize was overambitious, he could now go on to Aintree for the Grand National.

Yala Enki is guaranteed a run too and probably needs cut in the ground to be seen to best effect. The nine-year-old is no stranger to success on Merseyside after winning the official Grand National Trial last season at Haydock Park.

He shares a sire with Ryanair Chase hero Frodon, whose partnership with Bryony Frost made plenty of headlines throughout the Festival. Yala Enki is a 50/1 shot for the Grand National but horses that filled minor places in the Gold Cup have gone on to do well at Aintree before - most notably Anibale Fly last season.