Bailey playing safe with Longshanks
Kim Bailey will enter John Smith’s Grand National hopeful Longshanks in the Topham Chase on the Friday of the Aintree meeting as consolation in case he fails to get into the big race itself.
On a current weight of 10st 1lb, the eight-year-old lies in 57th place on the list for the Grand National, with the top 40 earning the right to take part.
The Northamptonshire trainer will wait to see whether enough horses withdraw above Longshanks so that he gets a run.
“The plan is definitely to go for the Grand National, although he will also be entered for the Topham on Friday week, just in case he fails to make the cut for the Grand National,” Bailey told his website www.kcbaileyracing.com.
“About 15 horses above him need to come out for Longshanks to scrape in to the great race. The last four years we have been in the same position with Supreme Charm and Wonder Weasel, and both horses just scraped in at the last moment on number 40!”
A winner at Kempton on his latest start in January, Bailey has always had the National in mind for Longshanks, although, like a number of horses at his yard, he scoped badly recently and had to miss his engagement in the Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham.
However, Bailey reported that all seems well now: “Longshanks has pleased me in his preparation for next week’s race, all we need now is a good gallop round Newbury on Sunday morning to put him spot on for the big week ahead.
“He is fit and healthy and now we need a bit of luck – just for a change.”
