TONY McCOY has stayed loyal to Butler’s Cabin and will ride the nine-year-old in tomorrow’s John Smith’s Grand National.
The champion jockey, who has yet to win the Aintree showpiece in 13 previous attempts, had the choice of four runners owned by his boss JP McManus. But he has overlooked the claims of L’Ami, Noel Fehily, Can’t Buy Time and Reviellez to partner the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Butler’s Cabin.
The former Irish Grand National winner fell at Becher’s Brook second time around when going well under McCoy 12 months ago. But McCoy has decided on Butler’s Cabin, who is a best-priced 10-1 second favourite with William Hill.
O’Neill is hoping that he too can taste victory in the National himself.
He has three runners this time, but he thinks Butler’s Cabin, providing he gets some luck, is the most likely to end the National drought for McManus, McCoy and himself.
He said: “He is in great form, he had a nice run at Cheltenham and he has come out of it well. The ground is good for him and if he jumps around this time he has obviously got a sporting chance.
“He doesn’t worry me too much (that he fell last year). But obviously every fence can be a worry round here. With the loose horses and everything you need a lot of luck. They need to take to the place and he was running well enough before he fell last year. But he has got a sporting chance now. We will have no excuses.
“I had no input into Tony’s decision because you need so much. If I told him to ride one thing, the other one might come and beat it. But that is the kind of game it is. You need a lot of luck. It is a great race and we all want to win it.
“I have had more luck training than riding, because I never got around it in six or seven rides. I always tell everyone I was lucky.
“We also have Can’t Buy Time and Reveillez and they are all in good form and have a chance.”
At yesterday’s final declaration stage for the National, the 40 runners declared on Monday all stood their ground, which means the Philip Hobbs-trained Zabenz is bottom of the weights on 10st 5lb, with the Donald McCain-trained Cloudy Lane, sixth last year when sent off the 7-1 co-favourite, but a 50-1 chance with BlueSquare now, has the burden of top-weight under 11st 10lb.
Last year’s winner Comply Or Die shoulders 11st 6lb for the David Pipe and David Johnson team.
Connections of current 8-1 favourite My Will had a boost at Aintree yesterday when the Stewart family’s red, white and black colours were carried to victory in the opening race of the meeting by Big Buck’s.
Although hopeful of a big run from My Will, especially with two-time National winner Walsh in the saddle tomorrow, the owners feel the nine-year-old’s price is too short for the Aintree showpiece.
Owner Andy Stewart said: “Having a jockey with that experience round Aintree and who has also ridden the horse beforehand is important. I think the price the bookmakers have got him is far too short.”
