DESSIE HUGHES’ experiences with the daunting Aintree fences have generally been short and swift.
As a jockey he never got round and when he saddled his first runner as a trainer in the John Smith’s Grand National 12 months ago, his big hope Black Apalachi got no further than the second fence.
But all that changed when his 10-year-old ploughed his way through the mud and jumped superbly to win the totesport.com Becher Chase in November.
Last year Hughes hoped he had a National contender, after the gelding’s success over the daunting Aintree obstacles at the end of last year now he believes he has.
The County Kildare handler said: “He ran down to the first two fences too free and paid the penalty last year.
“He was my first runner last year, but we have high hopes this time. We do have a chance and his preparation’s been good.”
Black Apalachi’s front-running success in November saw him land the 3m2½f contest by an incredible 74 lengths.
Since then Hughes has only run him twice. He finished fifth over hurdles at Punchestown at the start of February just before the weights were revealed for the National.
Then three weeks later, he scored another impressive success in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse beating last season’s Grand National third Snowy Morning – who will be among the opposition again at Aintree on Saturday – by 17 lengths.
Everything seems to have gone perfectly since and Hughes added: “He won the Becher and it was great to see him jump well.
“He then won the Bobbyjo, which was the perfect warm-up. Since then we have just kept him ticking over.”
Hughes, whose son is the talented Flat jockey Richard, was also a high-class horseman himself.
During a successful career he landed the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Davy Lad in 1977 and among his other big-race successes was Monksfield’s triumph in the 1979 Champion Hurdle.
But for the past 20 years he has been one of Ireland’s top trainers, winning the Champion Hurdle twice with stable stalwart Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005.
But the National has been something of poisoned chalice for Hughes. He trained Timbera to win the Irish Grand National in 2003, but a year later when he was among the favourites for the race the horse had to be pulled out at the 11th hour when scoping dirty.
Then last year’s early mishap ended Black Apalachi’s dream.
Hughes recalled his days in the saddle and his misfortunes on Merseyside. He said: “I didn’t ride in the race many times, but I never got round. I rode Davy Lad the year he won the Gold Cup (1977), but he fell at the first open ditch.
“Persian Helen (1970) refused and War Bonnet fell the year Red Rum (1977) won his third National.
“It’s a race we all want to win. It’s a great race and we do have a chance this year.”
Denis O’Regan, stable jockey to Durham trainer Howard Johnson, rode Black Apalachi to glory at Aintree in the Becher Chase. He will again be on board on Saturday after proving his fitness yesterday.
O’Regan had been on the sidelines with a back injury. But he returned in style at Wetherby yesterday as Johnson’s Bow School won the wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Chase.
O’Regan said: “I have taken a bit of a blow, but I feel great and a bit more physiotherapy tomorrow should put me spot on for Saturday.
“I have just been resting and having physiotherapy, Howard’s wife Sue has put me on to some very good people.”
And while he is confident of another big run, the fact that Black Apalachi now has to carry 11st5lb and the likelihood of his favoured soft going diminishing by the day, means his enthusiasm is tempered slightly. O’Regan said: “It’s going to be hard with the weights having gone up, but he’s a big horse and I think he’ll carry it okay.
“He gave me a brilliant ride in the Becher and it’s a race I very much want to win.
“I was fifth on Bewleys Berry last year and, please God, I can go a few places better this time.
“I’m having a fantastic season. I’ve got plenty of winners on the board. It’s great to be riding for Mr Wylie and Mr Johnson. I couldn’t get anybody better. They’ve got a great team of horses.”
TODAY’S NAP: Waterloo Dock (5pm Lingfield).
