by PaulWirral » Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:32 pm
Grand National: Sir Alex Ferguson's horse set for run
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is targeting a big win in Liverpool - with a horse he part-owns.
What A Friend was just edged out for third by Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup won by Long Run on Friday.
And trainer Paul Nicholls says the eight-year-old will run in the Grand National at Aintree on 9 April - if the ground is good.
Rated a 16-1 shot for the famous race, What A Friend is already a dual Grade One winner.
He won the Totesport Bowl at Aintree in April 2010, after which jockey Ruby Walsh indicated he might be suited to the National.
However, Irishman Walsh would not be on board for Ferguson, despite being a keen United fan, because Somerset-based Nicholls has pledged to retain Daryl Jacob, who had the ride in the Gold Cup.
"I'm delighted to keep the ride and I thought he ran a cracking race in the Gold Cup," Jacob told At The Races.
"He stayed on really well, jumped really well and I got a great ride off him. He stands out as a real Grand National-type horse.
"These opportunities don't come round very often and when they do, you've got to grab it with both hands.
"I'm very thankful to Paul and of course Sir Alex for keeping me on top of the horse.
"The horse seemed very fresh and very well when I pulled him up the other day and when he came back into the winner's enclosure he felt like he'd won it. "I'm hoping he hasn't taken that much out of himself. He should be OK."
Walsh's National options include Niche Market for Nicholls and The Midnight Club for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
Nicholls is champion trainer and has won a host of top races, including the Gold Cup four times, but is still waiting for his first Grand National victory.
At Cheltenham he trained the second, third and fourth behind Long Run, with Denman runner-up in what many observers considered the best running of recent years.
After the Gold Cup, Ferguson had indicated What A Friend - who wore blinkers for the first time - might not go to Aintree.
"I can't think of seeing a better race than that," said the 69-year-old Scot in the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham.
"He had three great horses in front of him so we are delighted with him. We might look at the Scottish National."
But Nicholls is now leaning towards the Grand National, partly because the horse's handicap mark - which dictates the weight he will carry - is set to go up following his Gold Cup run.
The weights for the National were announced in February, with What A Friend towards the top on 11st 6lb.
Official handicapper Phil Smith had based his mark on a rating of 156, but said he rated him at 171 after Cheltenham, theoretically making the horse 15lb "well in" at the weights.
The 2010 winner Don't Push It heads 82 entries currently remaining in the Grand National with a maximum field of 40 allowed to line up for the four-and-a-half-mile handicap chase over demanding fences such as Becher's Brook and the Chair.
The final field is determined by each contender's rating, with the highest-weighted horses given preference.
Whether Ferguson would attend Aintree to see the horse he owns jointly with friend Ged Mason is open to doubt.
Manchester United have a home match against Fulham, which kicks off at 1500 GMT, on Grand National day, with the race due to start at 1615 GMT.
The United boss has interests in several horses. His most high-profile involvement was with the brilliant Flat horse Rock of Gibraltar.
Ferguson led Rock of Gibraltar into the winner's enclosure during his early successes but an ownership dispute with wealthy Irish racing duo John Magnier and JP McManus resulted in the end of the association.
McManus owns more than 200 horses and his 2011 Grand National possibles include last year's winner Don't Push It and Welsh National victor Synchronised.