Monty's Pass has a weight problem

13 April 2012

Seven pounds. It doesn't sound a lot if you say it quickly, but Jimmy Mangan is worried that a few pieces of extra lead could cost Monty's Pass the chance to become the first back-to-back Martell Grand National winner since Red Rum landed the second of his three wins in 1974.

Mangan, who saddled the star of his small Cork stable to land one of the biggest gambles in Aintree history last year, arrived at the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone today hoping the senior British Horseracing Board jumps handicapper Phil Smith would allot Monty's Pass around 11-0 for this year's renewal.

News that the gelding will carry at least 11-7 and possibly more came as a nasty shock, leaving Mangan trying to put a brave face on things as he outlined plans to produce the gelding in peak condition again on 3 April.

"I was very surprised to see him so close to the topweights, but he is in super form after a break. There have never been any worries about his jumping, so the plan is still to prepare him for the National with a spin or two over hurdles," he said.

"The ground is too heavy for him at the moment, so we could start him in a race at Naas in about three weeks' time.

"We've had a tremendous experience thanks to his win last year. The odds are stacked against him with so much weight this time, but he's taken to Aintree like a natural and that's the one big thing we have in our favour."

Francois Doumen's First Gold heads the weights on 11-12 , but he won the Martell Cup at Aintree last year and may well bid for the same race again.

His absence would leave Fondmort, Harbour Pilot and the heavily-backed Rince Ri heading the National weights.

All three have been allotted 11-10, but anyone tempted to join the gamble which has gathered momentum on Rince Ri should note that more than 20 years have elapsed since any horse humped more than 11-0 to victory at Aintree.

Millionaire northern businessman Trevor Hemmings has been aiming to win the National for most of that period and is lining up a powerful National team this year, headed by Hedgehunter and Artic Jack and backed up by Chives, Southern Star and Lord Jack. And Hemmings, who suffered the pain of seeing The Last Fling and Goguenard killed while carrying his colours in the last two Nationals, feels that his horses have live chances.

"Hedgehunter is in excellent condition after his win in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and Willie Mullins is bringing him along for Aintree," he said.

"He would have to be the best of the bunch at present, but Artic Jack jumps for fun and we haven't seen the best of him yet."

AP McCoy also remains fiercely committed to breaking his National duck, but his chance of doing so aboard the highly-regarded Lord Atterbury is already in the balance.

David Pipe's gelding, who ran away with a hunter chase on last year's National card, is the hot favourite for Cheltenham's Foxhunter Chase and has also attracted plenty of support in the antepost market for the National.

However, the eight-year-old has been allotted just 9-12.

Time may prove that is a very lenient weight indeed but, along with the wellbacked Bear On Board, he will need at least 20 horses to defect in order to have any chance of getting a run in the big one.

Jonjo O'Neill also found the National an unlucky race in his riding days but is keen to rectify that as a trainer and has entered a team of six.

The Becher Chase winner Clan Royal is among them, as is the Hennessy Gold Cup runner-up Joss Naylor.

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