DENIS O’REGAN is hoping exuberance doesn’t get the better of Black Apalachi in tomorrow’s John Smith’s Grand National.
The Irish jockey will again partner Dessie Hughes’s 11-year-old in this year’s Aintree marathon after the former Becher Chase winner was among the final 40 declared runners yesterday as there were no withdrawals from Monday’s original list.
O’Regan couldn’t be happier with his charge who is among the leading fancies at Aintree. But he will be looking for better luck than last year when Black Apalachi came down at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit as he led the field.
Hughes’s charge certainly knows what it takes to get round the big Aintree obstacles. He put up a superb round of jumping to win the Becher Chase in 2008.
And although O’Regan wouldn’t swap his ride, he hopes the horse’s flamboyant style doesn’t make him hit the deck for a third National in a row.
O’Regan said yesterday: “I am looking forward to the ride.
“He is a grand horse, big horse but his record in the National hasn’t been great.
“He fell at the second fence and obviously came down at Becher’s second time. We were still in front at the time but he is a very good ride. We were still a long way from home it is 4m4f. But he won the Becher here very impressively and we will see how he goes.
“He is a good enough jumper. He is a bit exuberant. Sometimes you need at clever jumper; a clever horse that minds himself. But hopefully we will see how the race pans out and if we meet every fence right we might be lucky.”
O’Regan will ride in the race for the fourth time tomorrow, with his fifth-placed finish aboard Howard Johnson’s Bewleys Berry the only time he had got round. But he said: “I was fifth two years ago on Bewleys Berry I had a unbelievable ride.
“Unfortunately I came down last year and in my first year, so my record isn’t great in the National, but I have had a lot of success over the National fences. Hopefully I can have a good run.”
It was testing conditions when Black Apalachi won the Becher and he is usually better when he can get his toe in. And although O’Regan would prefer to run on the easier conditions which prevailed on the first day yesterday, he is happy enough.
He added: “I would prefer if it (the National) was today, but by Saturday it looks like it is going to dry out. It looks like it will be on the quick side. Obviously it won’t suit him as much. I’d rather a bit of rain. But you have to take it as it comes.
“With the ground being good it will help the horse, the weight won’t be as much a burden than if it was soft ground. He is a big horse and he is flamboyant, so he can carry the weight. We just need a bit of luck to get round further than Becher’s this time.”
Black Apalachi returns to Aintree having finished second to stable-mate and fellow National hopeful Vic Venturi in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.
O’Regan wasn’t riding that day, but feels the race may be a pointer to tomorrow’s National.
He said: “I’ve never ridden him in Ireland. But he was second in the Bobbyjo and he is in really good form. But looking at it I suppose Vic Venturi is the one. They have two great chances and Dessie Hughes is a great man and I would love to get on the scoreboard with him.”
NINA CARBERRY was yesterday handed a Grand National ride aboard John Quinn’s Character Building.
Irish amateur Carberry, who is the sister of Grand National-winning rider Paul, will partner the 10-year-old. It is only the second time she has ridden in the National, after she finished ninth aboard Forest Gunner in 2006.
The grey has recently been bought by David and Patricia Thompson, the proprietors of Cheveley Park Stud. And trainer Quinn said: “After discussions with Mr and Mrs Thompson it has been decided that Nina Carberry will ride Character Building on Saturday in the Grand National.
“Nina has proved time and again that she can mix it with the best and the Thompsons were very keen to acquire her services. Roll on Saturday.”
Carberry will be bidding to become the first woman jockey to win the National.
