Geraghty Just ‘Aint’ Sure
Barry Geraghty admits that he is finding it difficult to choose between More Of That and Cause Of Causes, for the Aintree Grand National. JP McManus’ top jockey has only just returned from injury and said “I’m none the wiser at the minute. I’ve sat on both horses. I rode Cause Of Causes work last week and he felt well. I schooled More Of That on Friday and that went well, too. Both are in good shape.
“You can make a very good case for both horses, so I’m a little bit undecided at the minute. More Of That was running well at Leopardstown when he came down at the last. You have to think he disappointed a little in the Gold Cup, but you’d like to think he’s better than that.
“Cause Of Causes obviously won the cross-country race in Cheltenham and that has been a good indicator over the years, but off his handicap mark it could be hard for him.
“It’s a tricky one.It’s not a straightforward one. I ‘ll make my decision on Thursday or shortly before. I can’t imagine it being too long before Thursday.”
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All’s Well That Ends Well, For George
Tom George has put The Worlds End’s disappointing fall, in the Cheltenham Albert Bartlett, well-behind him and the trainer is hoping to run the 6-year-old in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle if he schools well this week.
“He just came alight and then came down. He was travelling very well and it looked like he was going to play a big part,” said George.
“He has had a nasty fall but, touch wood, he has had two schooling sessions since then and he has been fine.
“We’ve got Perth but he is also in the three-mile novice at Aintree on Friday. He seems fine and if he schools well this week, there is no reason why he won’t go there.”
Trainer Mulls Over Return Of Shantou Village
Shantou Village could be back in action, by the end of the month. The G2-winning 7-year-old has been off the track since falling at Wincanton, in the Autumn, but trainer Neil Mulholland feels that the horse is almost ready to race again.
” He will be out somewhere in about two weeks’ time. He was not right in his coat and that is why he didn’t run at Cheltenham. We were not happy with him, so there was no point running him.
“He has got several options. There is a novice handicap at Sandown on the last day of the season, and there is a novice handicap at Punchestown, while there is also a race at Ayr for him.
“We might not necessarily go on the big stage when he comes back, we might go somewhere smaller first.”
Liverpool Ground Holds Fears For Fry
Fans of Unowhatimeanharry will be disappointed to hear that the 9-year-old may not feature, in the Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Harry Fry sounded cautious regarding his inmate’s prospects.
“He’s entered and we will be looking to run but we will see how the week pans out.
“I imagine ground will play a part and what other horses JP McManus has entered in the race and what he would like to run.
“He has been fine. Obviously it is quite a quick turn around and no doubt a decision will be made nearer the time.”
