Grand National
10.03.2010
Not every trainer with an intended runner in the 2010 John Smith's Grand National will be pleased by the recent improvement in the British weather, but one handler delighted at the prospect of decent ground for the Aintree marathon is John Quinn, trained of the talented Character Building.
Winner of last year's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Quinn's grey was not seen back in action until tackling a Doncaster handicap hurdle early last month after some 11 months off the track and not surprisingly ran as though in need of the outing in finishing some way down the field.
With that pipe-opener under his belt, a return visit to Cheltenham to tackle the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase is next on the cards before a crack at the Grand National on April 10. In finishing a close second in the 2007 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham over the marathon trip of four-miles-one-furlong, Character Building proved he has what it takes to be competitive amongst Grand National Entries in the major staying chases.
Connections will be hoping that next month he can make up for the bitter disappointment experienced 12 months ago when going lame a few days prior to the Grand National when one of the market leaders.
This year, having been allotted an attractive racing weight of 10st 11lbs, Character Building could be set to encounter his favoured decent ground, with a generally dry spell being forecast in the month prior to the big race. Such underfoot conditions would significantly increase the 10-year-old's chances and see the current offer of 33/1 snapped up by those punters aware of his penchant for good ground. And expect a myriad of horse racing tips in the next few weeks.
A decent performance at Cheltenham would also remind people of the ability of Quinn's charge, a horse who on his day can mix it with the best of them in the major handicaps come Grand National Start Time.
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