Aintree appointment still on agenda for Mr

Mar 18 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

PAUL NICHOLLS is is hopeful Mr Pointment can bounce back to form in the John Smith’s Grand National following a disappointing display at Doncaster at the start of the month.

The nine-year-old was ante-post favourite for to the Aintree showpiece following his superb victory over the National fences in the totesport.com Becher Chase back in November.

But after the publication of the weights for the 4m4f marathon in February when the gelding was handed 11st8lb, he began to drift in the betting. The defection of top weight Beef Or Salmon, which is expected to be confirmed at today’s second forfeit stage means he will have to carry 2lb more.

Mr Pointment also has to put behind him a disappointing performance when he finished last of six more than 70 lengths behind current Grand National favourite, Cloudy Lane, in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster.

Mr Pointment is now a best-priced 25-1 with Stan James, BetDirect and Better for the National, with Donald McCain junior’s Cloudy Lane the 7-1 market leader with Sportingbet.

But Nicholls believes there were excuses for his Doncaster disappointment and is confident Mr Pointment will be much-improved at Aintree, despite facing Cloudy Lane on worse terms.

The champion trainer said: “He’s still on target (for the National).

“It was a bit disappointing the way he ran that day but in hindsight I’m convinced he had a little bleed, not outwardly, but I think that is just him anyway.

“I’m not convinced he was enjoying the ground anyway. If you watch it again he didn’t jump at all and he sometimes can have an off-day.

“But he has worked hard since and I’m going to put that behind me and just try to get him there in as good a form as I can.”

Two others horses, Dun Doire and Point Barrow, with the Grand National on their agenda warmed up for the Aintree spectacular when finishing second and third behind 8-1 shot In The Loop in the Tennent’s No.1 Chase at Down Royal yesterday.

It was something of a shock result as Tony Martin’s Dun Doire was sent off the 11-8 favourite with the Pat Hughes-trained Point Barrow next best at 13-8. But it was the Roger Loughran-ridden 10-year-old In The Loop who landed the spoils, scoring a four-and-a-half length success over Dun Doire with Point Barrow the same distance back in third.

Dun Doire, who has failed to complete in last two Grand Nationals, will bid to make it third time lucky and is generally a 33-1 chance to do so. While Point Barrow, fell at the first fence last April when sent off one of the 8-1 co-favourites.

He is a best-priced 25-1 with Stan James, BetDirect and Better.

The winner is now being aimed at the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 19.

He is entered in the Irish version at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, but his County Antrim trainer Roy Wilson said: “He’ll go for the Scottish National hopefully because he won’t get in the Irish National.

“He lacked confidence before going to Downpatrick last time. He stays all day.”

TODAY’S NAP: Dickie Lewis (4.40p, Warwick).