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Race Specialist, Cappa Bleu, Set for Another Grand National Spin
10/07/13

The old adage of ‘horses for courses’ never rang truer than in the case of the Evan Williams-trained stayer, Cappa Bleu, who once again ran a tremendous race at Aintree in April to finish runner-up in the John Smith’s Grand National. He is more than likely to be back on the big stage for the 2014 renewal of the biggest betting race of the year.

Cappa Bleu
© Racehorse Photos

The 11-year-old has been very lightly raced throughout his career and has far fewer miles on the clock than would normally be expected for a chaser of his age, Williams having specifically targeted the Grand National the last two seasons and resisted the temptation to go racing with the son of Pistolet Bleu on other major stages.

Third in the Coral Welsh Grand National in December 2011, Cappa Bleu ran a fine race on his first spin over the Grand national fences at Aintree in 2012 to finish fourth of the 40 runners behind Neptune Collonges, running on well over the last three furlongs to grab a place after being badly hampered earlier on in the contest.

After just two preparation races ahead of last season’s Grand National, the veteran was sent off at odds of just 12/1 after attracting plenty of interest in the betting and being one of the strongest tips on the day of the big contest.

After getting outpaced on the final circuit, Paul Moloney’s mount rallied tremendously well to finish better than anything and grab a gallant second place behind the shock 66/1 scorer, Auroras Encore.

Granted good health, Cappa Bleu –priced at best odds of 33/1 in the ante-post market for the 2014 Grand National - could again feature at the finish of this season’s outstanding sporting occasion.