Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill Blog: Vanillier getting to where I want him

Last weekend

We had a really good weekend in the UK with both Yeah Man and Now Is The Hour winning at Haydock.

Yeah Man will be targeted at the Irish National – he seems to be improving all the time and won nicely last weekend so we’re hopeful he can be competitive again.

Now Is The Hour isn’t in the Albert Bartlett but he could be supplemented and I wouldn’t rule that out. He would appreciate soft ground but he’s going the right way. I thought he had a place chance at Haydock, but Sean [Flanagan] gave him a great ride and he won really well in the end. We have a good race in the Albert Bartlett so we’ll see how he is nearer the time and make a plan.

Fairyhouse, Saturday

Vanillier is certainly moving in the right direction and I’m happy with him ahead of the Bobbyjo Chase (3.50pm). We’re hoping to see a good run here which should set him up well for the Grand National. He’s taken a bit of time to get to where I’d like him to be, but we weighed him on Friday morning and he’s a similar weight to where he was this time last year which was encouraging to see.

We were happy with the weight the handicapper gave him for the race at Aintree. It’s a lovely racing weight considering how well he ran in it last year and you can’t really make any excuses on that front. It would amazing to win a Grand National and I do think he’s capable of doing it as we know he likes the fences and has the stamina. He’s coming along nicely and Saturday will hopefully bring him forward again.

Naas, Sunday

Bottler’secret makes his first start for us in the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle (1.25pm). He was a good horse on the Flat and he goes on soft ground, so hopefully he can run well. It’s a big ask to run in this company first time up and if he does run in the Triumph, which he’s entered in, he’ll need to be running a big race here.

We run both Evies Vladimir and La Malmason in the Listed Chase (2.25pm). Conditions should suit them and I’m happy with how they have been going at home.

I thought La Malmason would win the last day but the race turned into a bit of a spring which didn’t really suit her and with any luck, this race will be run to suit a bit more.

Evies Vladimir is all about stamina so the trip might be on the short side, but it’s really good prize money on offer so we thought we’d take her our chance with him too.