O’Neill keen on National bid for Synchronised

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill is keen for Synchronised to attempt to become just the second horse in history to land the John Smith’s Grand National and the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.

O’Neill said yesterday he saw “no reason” not to run in the Aintree marathon on April 14.

Golden Miller, the winner of five consecutive Gold Cups [1932-36], is the only horse to complete the double when winning at Aintree in 1934 and despite connections of recent Gold Cup winners rarely considering a tilt at the National, O’Neill thinks it’s the obvious race for the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old.