Any Second Now ready for this third try on the Randox Grand Nationwide by successful the Navan’s Webster Cup for the second time.
Ted Walsh’s 11-year-old gained the race by 10 lengths in 2021 earlier than ending third in his first crack on the Aintree Marathon and after skipping Navan in favor of the Bobbyjo Chase 12 months in the past, got here again on the County Meath website in advantageous type – pulling seven factors forward of fellow nationwide candidate Velvet Elvis within the closing levels.
The second-year contest – which was initially scheduled for March 11 earlier than being misplaced to the weather – is a well-used path to Liverpool by Walsh, who additionally gained the Navan characteristic with Rince Ri 20 years in the past and the Kill-based supervisor was filled with reward for his steady prop who obliged as a 5-4 favourite.
He stated: “He did it properly, he did not do greater than he needed to. Denis (O’Regan) was pleased with himself.
“He jumped properly. Going slightly beneath the final one, the bottom could be very making an attempt. When he caught it on the again of the final one, he accelerated properly.
“Each time he is been to Aintree his final race has been a win. It was nice to have him and he is been a mannequin of consistency.”
Any Second Now could be set to hold the best weight of eleventh 12lbs in Merseyside on April 15, however regardless of his years of development and that heavy weight burden on a mark of 7lbs over his Irish determine present, Walsh is blissful his veteran is taking a 3rd swing on the run after putting the previous two seasons.
He continued: “It has been a month since final Saturday. [until Aintree] which is grand.
“So long as he stays wholesome and wholesome, he’ll go there. He has a giant job with the best weight on his again.
“He wasn’t unfortunate final yr, a finest horse of the day beat him – an enhancing horse (Noble Yeats). He was unfortunate the yr earlier than and he’ll come again and race at once more a great race, however all the pieces would wish to fall only for you.
“It has been seven years since he gained his first hurdle right here as a four-year-old. He is huge and a easy horse, he is a one-trick bus.”
Any Second Now was shortened to 16-1 from 20s for the Grand Nationwide by William Hill, whereas Paddy Energy went from 12s to 16-1.
Earlier on the map, Henry of Bromhead important boss received the higher of Gordon Elliott’s Landrake to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.
Winner of greater than two and a half miles at Punchestown beforehand, the 6-4 favourite relished the 2 further levels in testing circumstances to stage a return to the Kildare website for the Pageant subsequent month.
“I am delighted with that, he is a beautiful horse,” stated De Bromhead. “I like how he is grounded it there. He is nonetheless a child, however he is enhancing on a regular basis.
“He simply has to land there, you would not wish to get there too quickly. It appears to be like like this [stay all day], however but it additionally has a gear, fairly humorous. He has simply been crushed in a primary two-mile hurdle at Clonmel.
“He’s via to the Pink Mills public sale closing at Punchestown so he’s eligible to go. We needed to present him a bit extra expertise.”
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