Walsh has rebel with a cause

Ruby Walsh is set to partner Cornish Rebel at Ayr on Saturday in his bid to land an unprecedented National grand slam.

This season the rider has won the Welsh and Irish Nationals on Silver Birch and Numbersixvalverde respectively, and at Aintree on Saturday he captured the John Smith’s Grand National on Hedgehunter to tee up the prospect of a fabulous four-timer.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Silver Birch, will provide Walsh with his mount in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at the weekend.

“He’s going to ride Cornish Rebel, who could do with a bit of cut in the ground,” Nicholls said today.

“I’ll probably run three in the race, Cornish Rebel, Shotgun Willy and Colourful Life. But Ruby will ride Cornish Rebel.”

Nicholls ran four in yesterday’s Grand National with Royal Auclair finishing second, Heros Collonges eighth, L’Aventure 15th, and Ad Hoc, who fell at the second Becher’s (22nd).

“They are all fine, bar Ad Hoc, who stayed up at Aintree because they were suspicious that he might have had a hairline fracture of his fetlock joint but it sounds like he is OK,” Nicholls revealed.

“It’s not a serious injury but they think he’s OK. He was just a bit sore to travel home that’s why we left him up there. He’s in good hands.

“He was running a nice race yesterday but I’m hoping he won’t be too bad.”

Royal Auclair ran a fine race under 11st 10lb to be beaten 14 lengths by Hedgehunter and he could now be aimed at Sandown’s Betfred Gold Cup, a race in which he was narrowly beaten by Puntal 12 months ago.

“Fortunately Royal Auclair is A1,” said Nicholls.

“It’s a bit early to make a decision (about the Betfred). It’s a fortnight away and if he was fit and well – he takes his races well – he might well run.

“He was beaten a head in it last year and he likes it around there so yes, it’s a possibility. But we wouldn’t make a decision until the end of next week. We’ll just see how he is.”