The Druids Nephew came out best-in when Grand National weights were announced last month. This eight-year-old King's Theatre gelding proved our time-handicap right when landing a fiercely-competitive Cheltenham Festival handicap and will line up for the World's Greatest Horse-Race at Aintree, mount of Aidan Coleman.
Key to my assessment was a remarkable run in the 'Hennessy' over three and a quarter miles at Newbury during November when Neil Mulholland's charge continually hit fences but then took off on the far bend and actually looked a genuine threat approaching the third last. Earlier lapses took their toll but The Druids Nephew finished a respectable 7th of nineteen.
Davy Russell was impressed but he's out of action due to injury and so is Barry Geraghty, brilliant aboard TDN at Prestbury Park. I'm delighted with the booking of Coleman however, a likely challenger for the NH jockeys' championship next season given that Tony McCoy will abdicate during, or after, the wonderful three-day(s) Liverpool spectacular. He wont be licensed in May!
If Shutthefrontdoor wins the National 'AP' will probably retire there and then but the current favourite (because Tony has declared he'll ride him!) will have no chance of beating The Druids Nephew if the latter achieves his mark. Also his somewhat slovenly technique might just suit those unique fences ideally as it's possible to rustle the fringes in the way the Red Rum did without falling one hundred and fifty times.
As we're excited about a genuine prospect, in the meantime there are three jumping fixtures today, Chepstow, Warwick and Kempton where Destiny's Gold looks destined for one of three placings in the Novices' Hurdle over two miles which kicks off a seven-race programme.
I'm loathe to mention the time-handicap where jumping is concerned having found so many inaccuracies/discrepancies with timing but Destiny's Gold is similarly-rated to the obvious principals, Argot and Brother Bennett, on offical ratings and justifies a punt.
At the Midlands venue Verano is a solid nap for the Novices' Handicap Hurdle over two miles; thrown-in and napped with my favourite NH jockey, Daryl 'patient' Jacob on our side.