Also Rans That Can Be Winners

Paul Ferguson has a choice list of horses worth a place in your notebook.

It might be June with the Flat season well and truly underway, but May gave me the opportunity to look back at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in detail and I have come up with five ‘also rans’ that should be put into the notebook with next season in mind.

Shearling (Brian Ellison) – 4th Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper

Running in a bumper for a fifth time, Richard Johnson took over in the saddle on this Rail Link filly and probably found himself further back than ideal in the early exchanges in day one’s concluding contest.

Given where she was positioned Shearling probably did well to finish as close as she did in the end (beaten 6 lengths) and there are sure to be races to be won with her once sent hurdling next term – indeed, she would probably be quick enough to win a middle-distance fillies’ maiden on the Flat.

Three times a winner before Aintree, two of those successes came over trips between 1m4½f – 1m6f and, having seen her up close on a couple of occasions, she certainly possesses the size and scope to jump hurdles. She could prove profitable to follow in the North next season.

Debece (Tim Vaughan) – 3rd Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle