CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP winner Synchronised is of one 47 runners declared for Saturday’s Aintree Grand National.
The Jonjo O’Neill trained horse will once again be piloted by 16-time champion jockey Tony McCoy who was on board when the nine-year-old surprised many by beating the well-fancied Long Run and Kauto Star last month.
If successful at Aintree, Synchronised will become just the second horse to achieve the Gold Cup, Grand National double in the same season; joining Golden Miller who managed the feat in 1934.
Indeed, only one other horse – L’Escargot – has even won both races. The 1970 and ’71 Gold Cup winner beat Red Rum to claim the 1975 Grand National.
McCoy, who won the National two years ago aboard Don’t Push It, told At The Races that while Synchronised has “got a lot of weight, he’s a classy horse and if he stays well and if he does take his chance, hopefully he’ll give a good account.”
Trainer Jonjo O’Neill has two other horses in the race, Sunnyhillboy and Arbror Supreme and all three are owned by JP McManus who must fancy his chances at taking one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
2011 winner Ballabriggs and Mon Mome, who emerged victorious as a 100/1 outsider in 2009, both run, as does the well-fancied Willie Mullins’ horse, On His Own, ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Though 47 runners have been declared for the race, only 40 will go to post with Hello Bud, Neptune Equester, Any Currency, Our Island, Abbeybraney, Smoking Aces and Ballyvesey all needing withdrawals in order to run.
Whoever runs, it is likely that Synchronised will start as favourite as the eyes of the racing world turn on Aintree this Saturday,
