More of the same as Mangan plots Monty’s route to Aintree

JIMMY MANGAN opened his doors at Conna to the press yesterday and Monty's Pass, the 2003 Martell Grand National winner, strutted his stuff in front of the large crowd which had come to see him and his trainer.

Mangan revealed that the reason for Monty's apparent lack of 'sparkle' at home - which led to his not travelling, as intended, to Haydock Park last Sunday - had since come to light in the shape of an abscess on the side of his face. With the abscess now after breaking through the skin, he is well on the road to recovery and advertised his well being by throwing a few bucks that put his jockey for the morning, Norman Williamson, to the test.

Not too many are renowned for that and Williamson, who referred to the National winner's reactions as "like lightning," quipped "you'd have to be up early in the morning for him" - that a compliment in itself to the horse's regular work-rider, Mangan's wife Mary.