Corach Rambler is the new favourite for the Randox Grand National after a superb second successive victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
There were a number in the field using this 3m1f handicap as a stepping stone to the big one at Aintree Racecourse on April 15 – nonemoreso that last year's Ultima hero Corach Rambler from the Grand National-winning stable of Lucinda Russell. He was already among the market leaders for Aintree and after his second victory at Prestbury Park under Derek Fox, Corach Rambler is now as low as 6-1 with some firms. He was available at a best-priced 8-1 with Coral, Skybet and bet365.
It is easy to see why the nine-year-old will head to the famous Liverpool track in just over four weeks as possibly the best chance of a first British winner since 2017. Not least because it was Scottish-based Russell – and One For Arthur – who provided that sole home victory among the almost near Irish domination of the world's greatest steeplechase recently.
Just like last year Corach Rambler, sent off the well-backed 6-1 joint favourite, was travelling well under Fox – who also partnered One For Arthur to victory in the National – before moving through the field smoothly at the business end of the race. He jumped well over the last and got the better of Martin Brassil's Fastorslow (7-1) by a neck at the line. The other 6-1 joint favourite, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Monbeg Genius, was a further two lengths back in third with The Goffer (7-1) another eight-and-a-half-lengths adrift in fourth.
READ MORE: Full 73 current entries for the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree
Russell's partner and assistant Peter Scudamore said: "It's a great thrill. I do appreciate how incredibly fortunate I am and if a bolt of lightning hits me on the way out, I'd die a happy man. The funny thing is that his jumping is getting better and he was closer than last year. All Derek wants to do is go out there and ride and that is the mark of the man."
Winning trainer Russell added: “As emotional as Scu and I are, the horse isn’t emotional. He just loves it round here. It’s phenomenal. It’s funny – I was so nervous beforehand because the horse means so much and everyone knows that, but Scu and I went in to speak to Derek [Fox], and he was so calm and cool. He said he’d just ride the same as last year – it’s just amazing.
“He’s got a brilliant mind. I think the horse has got quite an interesting mind, but I thought he travelled a bit better relatively close to the pace this time. I am just so proud of him today and so pleased for Scu. To hear that he’s favourite for the Grand National is amazing.”
Winning jockey Fox was delighted to land another success. He said: “Peter Scudamore said to me half an hour before the race to ride him something similar to last year and not to change anything and to keep nice and patient on him all the way. He always fills me with so much confidence and he gives me instructions as he understands the game so well. The horse was on absolute spot on form. Lucinda took the horse to Carlisle a few weeks ago after racing and he worked really well. He travelled so beautifully all the way through the race. It was unbelievable and I’m just delighted.
“Last year it was better ground and he was always in top gear until late on when he got going. This year with the ground being that good bit slower he travelled so much easier. He is slightly idle in front and I found myself coming down the hill thinking not to go to the front too soon on him and it just worked out beautifully. It is a pleasure to ride him. He picked up after the last then just 10 strides before the line I was hoping there was nothing going to come as he started to look at the crowd and stuff.
"He is a tremendous horse and has been a marvellous horse to me to get two winners here along with all the other races he has won along the way. I feel very lucky to be riding him as he is a very talented horse. Thanks to Lucinda and Scu for giving me these opportunities. I’m really looking forward to that now (Grand National). He stays well and I think he will run a massive race in that. I’m just delighted with today.
“He has been lightly raced since last year’s race but he finished a good fourth at Newbury in the Coral Gold Cup and I thought a repeat of that run was more than good enough. Lucinda had him in great order today and it all worked out really well. I think the slower ground made the race open up easier and I found the gaps easier. He is just a tremendous horse and I feel very lucky to be riding him.”
READ MORE: Grand National 2023: dates, tickets and how to watch on TV
Fox added: “He’s just a tremendous horse, he travelled a lot easier today than he did last year even. I found myself at the back three out and I thought I was going to hit the front early on him. Peter Scudamore came over to me before the race and just said, ‘ride him with plenty of confidence and do the same as last year – don’t change anything too much’. He always fills me with great confidence when he gives me instructions that I can do my own thing and ride it as I find it. He’s a marvellous horse, the yard favourite really. He’s the horse of a lifetime. I can’t believe it.”
Three other horses – Threeunderthrufive (eighth), Happygolucky (ninth) and Fantastikas (12th) – who also hold Grand National entries finished the race. Others Aintree hopefuls Remastered, The Big Breakaway, Cloudy Glen and Glamorgan Duke were all pulled up.
Another Grand National contender Gaillard Du Mesnil (4-5 favourite) stayed on superbly to win the Grade Two Wellchild Naitonal Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase by two-and-three-quarters of a length.
Willie Mullins' seven-year-old took the Grade Two 3m6f contest by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Chemical Energy (8-1). After long-time leader Mahler Mission suffering a crashing fall two fences from home, Chemical Energy took over. But, under Patrick Mullins, Gaillard Du Mesnil shows his stamina by battling on to triumph. It was a fine trial for the the Grand National and he is now as low as 8-1 with some bookmakers, but a best-priced 12-1 with BetVictor to follow up in the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse on April 15.
Mullins said: "I think we were a bit fortunate to be honest with John McConnell's horse falling, but that's racing. It was a tough three miles and six furlongs and while we were behind, Patrick thought they'd gone fast enough. I'm very happy. I don't know about Aintree, I don't know if it will come too soon for him so we'll see. I'm thrilled for the owners, Joe and Marie (Donnelly), they were second in the Champion Hurdle, too."
Patrick Mullins said: "He jumped a bit high. I think it was the white fences. We had the put in at home and he jumped them high there, too. Over that distance you just want them to pop, not expand energy, but after the first circuit he was better."
