Grand National 2015 Fact Files |
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Carlito Brigante (IRE) |
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Karen McLintock is looking forward to saddling her first runner in the £1-million Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 11.
The Northumberland handler is hoping to run Carlito Brigante, who has won two of his six starts over fences since joining her stable and was last seen out registering a 17-length victory in a three mile, two furlong handicap chase Kelso in October.
The nine-year-old, formerly trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, ran away with the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival and subsequently made the frame in Grade One hurdles at Aintree and Punchestown.
McLintock, who paid £32,000 for Carlito Brigante at the Doncaster Sales in August, 2013, said: “Carlito Brigante is really well in himself. He had a break but is back in the swing of things now.
“I love the horse and am really happy with the way he has come together. After we bought him, we gave him a short break and then ran him at Aintree but it was too soon.
“He needed a complete break and, since he came back, he has got better and better. I have found that if you give him a long break between his races, he is happier that way.
“Aintree is the main aim now. It would be nice to get him there and he will have one run before. He is entered for Kempton a week on Saturday, but there are races for him at Doncaster and Kelso on February 28 and I would say they are my preferred options.
“He will be my first runner in the Grand National and it is very exciting, but it also makes you very nervous.
“The trip is obviously a big question mark. He got the three mile, two furlongs very well at Kelso but it is a big difference at Aintree. It is the same for a lot of them though.”
