Nicky
Henderson’s classy Burton Port was the most significant absentee from the list
of five-day declarations for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated John Smith’s Grand
National at Aintree, the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth being excused duty
over the daunting fences and may instead take his chance in the Grade 1 Betfair
Bowl earlier at the meeting, writes Elliot Slater.
Burton
Port had been trading at as short as (Betting Odds
Grand National)12/1 with some firms and his absence means that Nicky
Henderson, currently involved in a titanic duel with Paul Nicholls for the
jumps trainers’ championship, will have to rely solely on Shakalakaboomboom if
he is going to wrap up the race for the title at the showcase Aintree fixture.
Henderson
has been trying to win ‘the world’s greatest steeplechase’ for thirty years,
and despite going close on a number of occasions is still without a Grand
National trophy in his bulging cabinet, but in Shakalakaboomboom, (Aintree Grand
National Betting: 20/1), he appears to have the perfect horse for the big
race and granted luck in running it is not at all beyond the bounds of
possibility that the gelding with one of the longest names in the business
might lift the coveted prize.
Aside
of Burton Point, whose owner Trevor Hemmings will rely on last year’s winner
Ballabriggs to try and provide him with a third Grand National victory in the
last eight renewals, the other absentees from the declarations were Midnight
Chase, Quel Esprit, Roberto Goldback, Apt Approach, Psycho, Pearlysteps, Prince
de Beauchene, Roulez Cool, The Package and Another Palm. Synchronised, a
gallant winner of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and top weight for the Grand
National with 11st 10lbs, remains in the contest although a definitive decision
has yet about his participation has yet to be made.
