Seabass to have another crack at Grand National
The Ted Walsh-trained gelding has had more than his fair share of problems but had been giving the right signs following a comeback run at Punchestown two weeks earlier, his first race for 21 months.
Seabass showed the benefit of that outing and that he was far from being a back number when running away from his younger rivals to take a novice hurdle over two and a half miles in the hands of Katie Walsh.
The same combination were third in the Aintree spectacular in 2012 and he was 13th a year later when sent off the 11-2 favourite.
Seabass is now set to follow the same route as in the 2011-12 campaign by running next at Limerick over Christmas and then heading to Leopardstown on January 24 when he won both engagements.
“Ted said he’d been working well at home and had been showing great spark. We were expecting a good run from him, but not quite that,” said Pat Glynn, of owners the Gunners Syndicate.
“He finished full of running and he was so fresh in the winner’s enclosure afterwards.
“He had ligament trouble as a five-year-old and was pin-fired and he had tendon trouble the last time. He’s a tough horse and Ted’s got him back now in top shape.
“He may go for a winners’ hurdle race at Limerick over Christmas or if not the Tim Duggan Memorial Chase at the same meeting which he won four years ago.
“He’ll then go back to Leopardstown for a chase at the end of January he won in 2012. I spoke to Ted this morning and the horse is 100 per cent. Fingers crossed, if he stays right he’ll go for the Grand National. It will probably he his last year for it. Seabass has got great staying ability and he’s a good jumper.”
- No More Heroes features among 12 entries for the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Saturday.
The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was smart as a novice hurdler and has created a strong impression in two starts since switching to fences, winning the Grade One Drinmore Chase last time out.
Elliott has also entered Lord Scoundrel and Captain Von Trappe.
Leading the home defence is Colin Tizzard’s Native River, winner of a Grade Two at Newbury last month, beating Un Temps Pour Tout, who is set to reoppose for David Pipe.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Bally Beaufort is another unbeaten over the bigger obstacles, while As De Mee represents Paul Nicholls and Neil Mulholland can call on progressive Doncaster winner Southfield Royale. The Nick Williams-trained Tea For Two also merits respect, with the former Lanzarote Hurdle winner impressing on his jumping bow at Exeter earlier this month.
