Grand National 2018 Fact Files |
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Gold Present |
Gold Present (IRE) 8-11-03
Breeding: br g Presenting – Ouro Preto (Definite Article)
Breeder: Seamus McKeogh
Born: May 16, 2010
Owner: Mr And Mrs J D Cotton
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey:
Form: 2211/P60/1522F-11P
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Britain's four-time champion Jump trainer has yet to win the world's greatest and most valuable chase, having come closest when filling the runner-up position with Zongalero (1979) and The Tsarevich (1987).
He has also had a third (Classified 1986), fourth (Brown Windsor 1990) and two fifths (Classified 1985 and Liberthine 2007).
Gold Present, a 20/1 chance with Betway, official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, was pulled up in the G3 Ultima Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13.
The eight-year-old had previously followed up a handicap success over an extended two miles and six furlongs at Newbury on December 2, with a Listed handicap victory over three miles at Ascot on December 23.
Gold Present was travelling well when falling at the 12th fence in the 2017 Randox Health Topham Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree, and connections are keen to run in the 2018 Randox Health Grand National over four and a quarter miles and 30 fences.
Seven Barrows maestro Henderson, hoping for further big-race success following the victories of Buveur D'Air (G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle) and Altior (G1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase) at the Cheltenham Festival, reported: "The Randox Health Grand National is definitely the plan with Gold Present.
"He is fine after Cheltenham and he had a trickle of blood from one nose, but he has not shown any more signs of that since.
"We've got plenty of time to target Aintree with him because of the longer gap between the meeting and the Cheltenham Festival.
"He has always been a brilliant jumper and he jumped so well at the Cheltenham Festival last year [finished second in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase] and that was one of the reasons that we decided to run him over the Grand National fences in the Topham.
"He was running well in the Topham and it wasn't really his fault or anybody else's when he fell at the Canal Turn.
"I needed to find out how much he stayed, but we're hopeful that he should OK regarding the trip. You never really know until you try it.
"Gold Present will be our only runner in the Grand National."
A maximum of 40 runners can line up at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 14 for the 2018 Randox Health Grand National.
The five-day acceptance stage for the Randox Health Grand National is at noon on Monday, April 9. The final declaration stage is at 10.00am on Thursday, April 12.
The final field of 40, plus a maximum of four reserves, will be known shortly after this time. Reserves come into the race if there are any withdrawals among the 40 declared runners prior to 1.00pm on Friday, April 13.
