Grand National Preview: Jagwar Tipped to Break Irish Dominance at Aintree
This preview of the Grand National highlights Jagwar as a top contender to end the long-standing dominance of Irish-trained horses in the prestigious race. No English stable has won the event since Oliver Sherwood’s victory with Many Clouds in 2015, with only Scotland’s Lucinda Russell breaking the Irish stranglehold in recent years. However, following a strong performance by English runners at the Cheltenham Festival, optimism is high for a home revival. Jagwar, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, is favored due to his youth, progressive form, and suitability for the extended distance. The seven-year-old showed promise when finishing close behind rival Johnnywho in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Jockey Mark Walsh retains the ride, aiming to cap his tenure with JP McManus with a major victory. The article also analyzes other key races on the card, including tips for Hold The Serve, Scorpio Rising, and Strong Leader, while noting that modern forgiving fences may mitigate Jagwar’s occasional jumping errors. This analysis positions Jagwar as the most appealing selection to restore English pride in the season’s biggest steeplechase.
Wire timeline
Grand National Preview: Jagwar Tipped to Break Irish Dominance at Aintree
This preview of the Grand National highlights Jagwar as a top contender to end the long-standing dominance of Irish-trained horses in the prestigious race. No English stable has won the event since Oliver Sherwood’s victory with Many Clouds in 2015, with only Scotland’s Lucinda Russell breaking the Irish stranglehold in recent years. However, following a strong performance by English runners at the Cheltenham Festival, optimism is high for a home revival. Jagwar, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, is favored due to his youth, progressive form, and suitability for the extended distance. The seven-year-old showed promise when finishing close behind rival Johnnywho in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Jockey Mark Walsh retains the ride, aiming to cap his tenure with JP McManus with a major victory. The article also analyzes other key races on the card, including tips for Hold The Serve, Scorpio Rising, and Strong Leader, while noting that modern forgiving fences may mitigate Jagwar’s occasional jumping errors. This analysis positions Jagwar as the most appealing selection to restore English pride in the season’s biggest steeplechase.
The Guardian