Gunner heading for top of Grand National market
Most firms chopped the 11-year-old’s odds yesterday and it is now entirely possible that Mrs Ford could make history as the first lady rider to partner a Grand National favourite.
Forest Gunner, who is trained by Mrs Ford’s husband Richard, is now an 11-1 chance with all the major British firms after serious support in recent days.
The swell of money has come despite the fact that four-time National-winning trainer Ginger McCain wrote off Forest Gunner’s chance, claiming that “women don’t win Grand Nationals”.
Forest Gunner would be the second-biggest loser in Ladbrokes’ ante-post book, with £330,000 potential losses on the Gunner B gelding.
Only McCain’s Amberleigh House, winner of the race last year, would cost the firm more if he won.
Mrs Ford will be the first woman since Rosemary Henderson in 1994 to line up for the Aintree showpiece and despite the fact that only two women have completed the race in the past, Hills make her a 5-6 chance to get round. ‘Girl power’ could well be the theme of next Saturday, with trainer Lucinda Russell predicting a good run from her contender Strong Resolve.
The nine-year-old still needs a few to come out of the race to be guaranteed a run, but he looks a solid 16-1 shot judged on his second to Silver Birch in the Welsh National last December.
Ms Russell gave Strong Resolve a break after that race but he proved his well-being with a decent second at Kelso last month and the trainer expects him to step up on that again.
“I’m just sort of taking every day as it comes. It will probably be a bit of a relief this time next week and as long as he comes home safe that’s great,” she told At The Races.
