IAN WILLIAMS is hoping Keenan’s Future will take to the John Smith’s Grand National fences when he tackles them for the first time in Sunday’s totesport.com Becher Chase.
The eight-year-old enjoys a staying test and landed the Crudwell Cup Handicap Chase at Warwick back in March.
Keenan’s Future has been run since finishing an excellent third to Fire And Rain in the Summer National at Uttoxeter in June. Trainer Williams, though, expects him to be fit enough to run a big race in 3m2f contest.
He is currently a 16-1 chance with Ladbrokes and Blue Square behind most firm’s 7-1 favourite, the Dessie Hughes-trained Vic Venturi.
Williams said: “The plan is for him to take his chance and Jason Maguire will ride.
“He’s in good form and Jason was in this morning to school him over a National-type fence and it all went very well.
“He hasn’t had a run since June but we have taken him for a racecourse gallop and he’s in good form.
“He probably wouldn’t want the ground bottomless and you never know how they’ll take to the fences until you try them, but we’re hopeful.”
The Becher Chase is the feature contest of an excellent six-race card which also has another race over the National fences in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Chase.
Tickets are £19, with accompanied children admitted free. They can be bought on the day at the gate or online at aintree.co.uk. Gates open 10.30am, with the first race due of at 12.05pm and the last race 2.55pm.
There is also free Christmas-themed entertainment all day long, including real reindeer, Santa’s Grotto, Children’s Christmas Craft Workshop and Christmas shopping.
