Mangan plots National route for Monty's

Monty’s Pass, who landed the biggest Martell Cognac Grand National gamble in the history of the great race last season, will have a similar campaign as he builds up to another tilt at the Aintree showpiece.

Back in April he fulfilled a plan hatched 12 months earlier in Conna, Co Cork, by trainer Jimmy Mangan and owners the Dee Racing Syndicate when he streaked home by 12 lengths at 16-1.

However, things have not gone according to plan for Monty’s Pass recently.

He was a disappointing seventh when bidding for a repeat success in the Kerry National at Listowel, following which he missed a possible engagement at Haydock Park last weekend.

“Barry (Geraghty) hopped off him at Listowel and said the ground rode dead. That was no good, as well as 12 stone,” said Mangan yesterday.

“He would still have given a good run even with 12 stone if the ground had been to his liking.

“We were going to give him another race at Haydock last Sunday, but he was just a bit off colour and he seemed to go off the boil. But there was an abscess forming in the side of his face. Thankfully, it has come out and he is fine now.”

Monty’s Pass will now have a similar preparation for Aintree to last year.

Mangan explained: “He’ll rest now, the year is over. The saddle will go back on on New Year’s Day.

“We’ll take the same route as last year. He came back in January, went for two hurdle races and then went straight on to Liverpool.

“His big plus always was his jumping. The hurdle races were just to get him sharpened up. He’ll see a fence schooling. We’ve all seen how he can jump.”

Norman Williamson partnered Monty’s Pass in a canter at Mangan’s farm yesterday, after which the former jockey joked: “That was my ambition – to ride a Grand National winner.”