past winners

grand national 2005 / news/

Henderson Now Favours Running Fondmort
04/04/05
Trainer Nicky Henderson has changed his mind and now favours running Fondmort in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Fondmort, runner-up to Thisthatandtother after an epic duel up the hill in the Daily Telegraph Trophy at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, is likely to head for the big one rather than aiming for the Betfair Bowl or John Smith’s Melling Chase as had been indicated last week.

Explaining his U-Turn, Henderson said: "We will keep our options open with one eye on the weather, but the National is Plan A.

"We schooled Fondmort over one of our Aintree-type fences on Sunday, and he jumped well, so, having consulted Mick Fitzgerald and owner Bill Brown, we have decided that if the ground does not get too soft we will go for gold.

"My gut reaction was to go for the two and a half-miler (John Smith’s Melling Chase), but, being realistic we’d be chasing round Moscow Flyer, and I didn’t fancy that too much.

"Fondmort is in very good order and is so well in himself and, though you have to go back to Gay Trip to find the last two and a half specialist to win the race, both Classified and The Tsarevich did us proud, and Fondmort is so relaxed that he gives himself every chance of getting the trip."