Synchronised ‘in the form of his life’

Jonjo O’Neill is confident his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Synchronised is in the form of his life as he bids to follow up in today’s John Smith’s Grand National.

With Golden Miller the last horse to complete the double in the same season all the way back in 1934, the history books suggest Synchronised is up against it. However, the nine-year-old is in a different mould to many who have tried, as a horse who has proven the sternest of stamina tests are to his liking by winning the Welsh and Midland Nationals.

Indeed, even his trainer admits he has always viewed his charge as more of a National horse than a Gold Cup horse and just because he landed the blue riband last month, he has no real reason to change his opinion.