It’s around this time of the year that the Grand National interest starts to pick up pace, and this is backed-up with this month’s Haydock Grand National Trial – staged this year on Saturday, February 20.
Well, in truth, the trades description people could have a case against the title of this race as it’s a Grand National Trial in name, rather than actually producing the winner of the Merseyside marathon in April!
Yes, it’s run over a trip of 3m 4 ½f, this Grade Three Chase and is billed as a Grand National trial, but we are yet to see a winner land both races in the same season!
The closest we’ve come was when the mighty Red Rum took the Haydock trial in 1975 but could manage only second in the Aintree Grand National that year. Many winners don’t even make it to the big race in Liverpool.
Other notable years were in 1997, when Suny Bay won this race and went on to finish second at Aintree, while, more recently, in 2017 the David Pipe-trained Vieux Lion Rouge went on to be sixth later that season.
In 2019, we saw the Colin Tizzard yard win this prize for the first time with their ten-year-old Robinsfirth, but he didn’t even go on to run in the Grand National and the same applied to the 2020 winner – Smooth Stepper – who was also absent in the big race.
That said, even though we are still looking for the first horse to win both races, it’s still a contest that is worth looking back on in a few months when National fever grabs the nation, plus it’s also one that has some key trends that have built up over the years.
So, what are the main trends to look for?
Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton