Mr Pointment set for his date at Doncaster

Feb 29 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

MR POINTMENT will be among a number of John Smith’s Grand National hopefuls who will take their next step to Aintree at Doncaster tomorrow.

Trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed Becher Chase winner Mr Pointment is set to run in the Coolfun Ltd Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster tomorrow, where he likely to meet market rival, Donald McCain junior’s Cloudy Lane. And also a possible for a spin over hurdles at Doncaster is last year’s National runner-up McKelvey, who is likely to make his first appearance since chasing home Silver Birch last April.

Mr Pointment is currently a 14-1 chance with William Hill, Coral and VCbet for National glory.

The nine-year-old was favourite following his Becher Chase success but he must carry 11st8lb in the National. He is now second best to Cloudy Lane, who will also run in tomorrow’s 3m2f handicap and is a best-priced 10-1 market leader with most firms for Aintree.

Nicholls said: “He definitely goes to Doncaster and Ruby Walsh is going up there to ride him. I think they are going to get some rain up there. The only concern would be if it was fast ground.”

McKelvey has not been seen since injuring himself in last year’s National, when he was just three-quarters-of-a-length behind Silver Birch.

Peter Bowen’s nine-year-old will definitely return to the track this weekend over the smaller obstacles and holds entries in the Betfredcasino Handicap Hurdle at Kempton and Doncaster’s Sands Venue Live Entertainment Handicap Hurdle both tomorrow, as well as the Heathcotes Outside Handicap Hurdle at Bangor on Sunday.

Bowen said: “He’ll go either on Saturday or Sunday. He’s got three entries and will go wherever the ground is best. He’ll probably have two hurdle races before Aintree. He’ll go this weekend somewhere, then have another spin in a fortnight.

“That hopefully will put him spot-on. He seems in fine form, we think he’s over his problems, but he’ll have a quiet run this weekend. We won’t be too hard on him.”

McKelvey is generally a 20-1 chance for the April 5 showpiece.

Jockey Andrew Thornton will not be able to ride Simon in the Grand National after he was told his dislocated shoulder injury is more serious than he first thought. He will now be out for the rest of the season.

Thornton suffered the injury in a fall at Kempton last Saturday and was hoping to be back for Aintree. but after seeing a specialist on Wednesday, he is now expected to be out for three months.

Thornton said: “I’m going to need an operation on it in the not-too-distant future. It’s going to be at least three months. The surgeon told me not to be getting any ideas about the National. He said it is something you can’t rush, you have to get it right.”

Meanwhile John Carr is “very, very happy” with Sublimity ahead of the defence of his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle crown.

The eight-year-old will have his final serious piece of work on Sunday after racing at Leopardstown, as he did last year before returning to Prestbury Park.

Sublimity is 5-1 second favourite behind Sizing Europe with Ladbrokes, Stan James and BetDirect. And Carr said: “Everything is going fine with him, we’ve not had a problem. We’re very, very happy with him. We did exactly the same last year and we are trying to stick as close to that as possible.”

TODAY’S NAP: Mr Rev (4pm Wolverhampton).