grand national 2013 /

On His Own Now Clear Favourite for John Smith’s Grand National
21/02/13

The Willie Mullins-trained On His Own, joint-favourite with his stable companion, Prince de Beauchene, for the John Smith’s Grand National prior to his recent outing at Navan, has advanced to market leader with most firms after putting up a tremendous performance on his first run over timber for nearly two years.

On His Own
© Caroline Norris

The horse won the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle in great style to boost his 2013 Grand National prospects.

As short as 8/1 clear favourite for Aintree with many firms, (a few still go 9’s and 10’s), On His Own had been expected to find the trip too short and the opposition too smart for him back over hurdles, having taken so well to chasing over the last couple of seasons.

Sent off a 10/1 shot under Paul Townend, the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned gelding was never far from the pace and came through to take up the running on the turn back towards home.

Headed briefly by eventual runner-up, Si C’Etait Vrai, the nine-year-old led again between the final two flights before forging clear on the run-in to score by two-and-a-half lengths.

The odds-on favourite and French Champion Hurdle winner, Thousand Stars – also trained by Mullins - came last, reportedly hating the sticky ground.

A pleasantly surprised Mullins confirmed that he intends to give On His Own one more outing before Aintree and that he will return to fences.

No specific targets were mentioned, but the win certainly caught the attention of betting firms and punters alike, who had been squarely focussed on the Cheltenham 2013 races, but saw for themselves that On His Own is in great shape ahead of his bid for ‘the world’s greatest steeplechase’ at Aintree on April 6.

In the big race last year, the gelded son of Presenting was travelling strongly in third place when falling at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit. Connections will be hoping for better fortune this time around.