Top owners Robcour came out of the Cheltenham Festival with a couple of winners on the board, and they’ll be hoping to appear at the top of the racing results once again, come Aintree’s Grand National Meeting.
Trainers Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead house the bulk of the team owned by Brian Acheson of Dornan Engineering, and his famous pink, white and black silks will be on display on Merseyside.
We’re looking at some possible Robcour horses to watch at the Aintree Festival.
Teahupoo
Teahupoo was well beaten in the Stayers’ Hurdle in the Cotswolds, finishing only sixth in the end as Home By The Lee caused a shock.
He has typically gone from Cheltenham to Punchestown in the past, but trainer Elliott spoke earlier this season of a desire to get more racing into the still relatively low-mileage nine-year-old.
He has just 22 career starts behind him, and while they have been spaced out in the past, the three-mile Liverpool Hurdle could be an option for a horse that showed at Christmas he can be effective on a slightly quicker surface that sometimes was deemed appropriate.
Bob Olinger also ran well in the defence of his Stayers’ title at Cheltenham and could be considered for the Liverpool Hurdle.
Heart Wood
Heart Wood took full advantage of Fact To File’s absence in the Ryanair Chase as the Henry de Bromhead charge defeated perennial Cotswolds bridesmaid Jonbon by 10 lengths.
Connections soon confirmed Merseyside will be the next port of call for Heart Wood, with the Melling Chase on April 10 very much in mind. Robcour racing manager Robbie Power suggested Aintree is the next target.
Highland Crystal
Highland Crystal came in for strong late support ahead of the Triumph Hurdle, but Elliott’s filly could only finish seventh as Apolon De Charnie landed yet another renewal for Willie Mullins despite an SP of 50/1.
Highland Crystal has now run two of her four races in the UK, winning a Listed contest at Newbury in fine style back in November.
The Grand National Festival opens with the Anniversary 4YO Hurdle over 2m4f, and given she has winning form already at two-and-a-quarter-miles, Elliott and Robcour could be tempted to roll the dice in this Grade 1 for the youngsters.
Gerri Colombe
Gerri Colombe is having a good spring and is the only Robcour inmate with a Grand National ticket. The 166-rated 10-year-old is set to carry 11st 10lb in the Merseyside marathon.
He was second in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February, a Grade 3 that has become an important Grand National trial, with the last two winners, I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett, following up at Aintree.
Grangeclare West proved too good on that day, and they would meet again on identical terms in the National. Gerri Colombe has since landed a smooth Down Royal victory on St Patrick’s Day under Jack Kennedy, and he’s two from two previously at Aintree over 3m1f, both in Grade 1s.
There have been lots of Grade 1 successes for the Robcour banner in both Britain and Ireland, but as yet, no Grand National win. Could Gerri Colombe, a solid Grade 1 performer at his peak, be one to go close in the big race on Merseyside?
Featured image credit: Julie Bishop via Unsplash
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