No pressure on McCoy to select National mount
Victory in the Aintree marathon is one of the few prizes to still elude the 13-times champion jockey and he has the choice of Butler’s Cabin, L’Ami, Reveillez and Can’t Buy Time to chose from in this year’s renewal.
McCoy has indicated he will leave a decision on his intended mount until as late as possible and Berry believes at least three of the McManus contenders have leading claims.
“There is no pressure for Tony to make up his mind as we have jockeys ready for the other horses,” said Berry.
“I’m sure he will wait to see what the ground is and the whole job on Thursday morning.”
Butler’s Cabin came to grief jumping Becher’s for the second time a year ago but Berry believes he has to go into this year’s renewal with a leading chance.
“Butler’s Cabin jumped well for a long way last year and he has come back and run a good race in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham,” Berry continued.
“He’s a bit higher in the weights this year but he has come out of his last race good and you would have to be pleased with him.”
L’Ami only made it as far as the second fence 12 months ago, ending the riding career of Mick Fitzgerald with a crashing fall.
“Before the National last year I thought L’Ami would be one you would love to be riding as I thought he’d be very safe, but for some reason he missed out the second badly and poor old Mick (Fitzgerald) got a bad fall,” added Berry.
“He’s been round the cross-country courses a few times since and he has got sharper at it. He’s fit and well so hopefully he will run a good race.”
Can’t Buy Time comes into the race off the back of a fourth-place finish in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, and Berry believes he could reward each-way support.
“He travelled very well through the race at Cheltenham and jumped great for John Thomas (McNamara),” Berry saaid.
“You wouldn’t have wanted to be on anything else coming down the hill but from the second last to home, he just weakened out of it. But he got a long way and I think the good ground will suit him. He is a good jumper and he is one of those who I think has an each-way chance.”
Malcolm Jefferson believes Brooklyn Brownie could go well at big odds having finished second over the giant fences in the Grand Sefton back in November.
“I just thought we’d give him a run over the National fences as he’s always had the appetite to jump,” said Jefferson.
“He ran well to finish second and I said to his owners then if everything went right, we would aim for the National and that’s what we’ve done. He jumps fences probably the best way for a National horse because he’s not over extravagant and he is quite a clever horse.
“Over four and a half miles you never know, but he ticks a few boxes.”
Bob Buckler faces an anxious wait to see whether Niche Market scrapes into the bottom of the weights.
With War of Attrition the latest runner to fall by the wayside, Zabenz is now the final horse on the list in the 40-horse field.
Nick Williams’ Maljimar is currently the first reserve with Niche Market also behind Companero and Pomme Tiepy and therefore needing four to drop out.
“We might just get in, but we’ll have to wait and see. If we don’t, we’ll go to Fairyhouse for the Irish National instead,” said Buckler.
“The horse is in grand form and raring to go. He’d prefer a bit more rain and if he got in, Harry Skelton would ride.”
Buckler is at least guaranteed one Aintree runner with stable star The Sawyer set for Friday’s John Smith’s Topham Chase over the same fences.
“He’s in the Topham and again, he would prefer it a bit softer,” added Dorset-based Buckler.
“He’d like it the soft side of good. Willie Kennedy will ride.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
