The Willie Mullins-trained On His Own,
so
narrowly denied victory in a thrilling renewal of the
2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup, is unlikely to take his chance in the £1
million Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5, writes
Elliot Slater.
The 10-year-old was generally installed
as the new favourite for “the world’s greatest steeplechase”
after failing by just a short-head to get the better of Lord
Windermere in a heart-stopping finish to the Gold Cup on March 14, a
result that connections considered appealing after On His Own
suffered some interference at the hands of the winner close home.
Owners Andrea and Graham Wylie have
however decided against an appeal, and having proved himself in the
hottest Grade 1 chase of the year the target appears to be the
Punchestown Gold Cup rather than a return to Aintree and the Grand
National, a race in which the gelded son of Presenting has twice
before been a leading fancy only to fall on both occasions when
appearing to be in with a chance of reaching the frame.
Connections had paid £27,500 to
supplement On His Own for the Gold Cup just a week before the big
race having taken the view that he had improved significantly since
his last outing when slamming Mount Benbulben by twelve lengths in
the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February. Their confidence
and the judgement of trainer Willie Mullins was well and truly
justified as the eight-time winner overcame a flat spot entering the
final mile to power home up the Cheltenham hill under David Casey,
who came in as a last-minute replacement for regular pilot Ruby Walsh
who suffered a broken arm in a fall earlier in the day.
Having been a
10/1 market leader for the Grand National, On His Own
has now been removed from most lists leaving last year’s third
Teaforthree as the new 10/1 favourite.