Keith Donoghue’s William Hill blog: Blinkers to help Stumptown travel in Grand National

William Hill ambassador Keith Donoghue gives his thoughts on his rides at Aintree’s Grand National Festival, including the chances of Stumptown in Saturday’s Grand National.

After four hectic days at the Cheltenham Festival I’ve had time to recharge the batteries ready for the Grand National Festival. I’ve only got a handful of rides across the three days at Aintree, but I look to have a couple of lively chances up there.

Aintree, Thursday

Getting me underway will be Break My Soul in the Aintree Hurdle (3:30pm). She was bought to be a chaser, and that is what she will do next season, but she had a great run in a Grade 3 hurdle at Gowran Park the last day where she got some valuable black type. We are just running her to give the owner a good day out. It is great to be running in a race like that and if we could finish fourth it would be a brilliant run. If she went and finished third and got some Grade 1 black type it would be even better, but we are definitely up against it with Constitution Hill, Lossiemouth and a couple of others in there. It is definitely nice to have a ride for my brother Ian in the race, but he beat me with one of his in the Ulster National on Sunday. His horses are running great, and it will be good for him to have a runner like this in a Grade 1. We all saw what happened at the Cheltenham Festival and we are living on that bit of hope.

My Mate Mozzie (4:40pm) ran a cracker in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. He just ran into better handicapped horses, but as ever he ran his race. I do think coming back to Aintree will suit him as it might give us that little bit more improvement on a flatter track and better ground so that is a big positive for him. I’m sure he will run well again. It is just a case if one is better handicapped. He is so consistent whether it is over hurdles, on the flat or over fences he always runs his race. He is a brilliant horse and it would be great to see him win one like this. He has only had two starts this side of Christmas and he has bounced out of Cheltenham really well so we are hopeful he will be in the first three at worst.

Aintree, Friday

I’ve only got the one ride on Friday for Gordon Elliott aboard Ash Tree Meadow in the Topham Handicap Chase (4:05pm). I’m not involved as much at Gordon’s anymore, but I think he is a very good jumper. If he comes back to his best form, I think the race will really suit him as he’ll like the ground and this is probably the trip. He has the class to carry a big weight, so if he does return to form I think he has a great chance. He has had a bit of time off, but coming from Gordon’s yard fitness would not be a worry.

Aintree, Saturday

I’ve had a little bit of attention leading up to my ride on Stumptown in the Grand National (4:00pm), but I suppose that just comes with the territory. I’ve been busy racing so I’ve not been overthinking about the race just yet. I schooled Stumptown over the Aintree style fences last week and he seemed very well. He seems to be in good form at home and I’m really looking forward to him. He did a great job at Cheltenham and I actually think the better ground helps him travel that bit better. We will swap the cheekpieces for the blinkers again, which he won in at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day last year, and the idea of that is to just make him travel in the race.

All of Gavin’s (Cromwell) horses have a big chance in the race, but I think if I had to pick out one rival it would be I Am Maximus as the way he won the race last year makes him the biggest danger for us all. I’ve had a few spins in the race and I would say the best of my previous rides was on Delta Work as he was a fair horse to ride, but I wouldn’t be swapping him for anything else in the race. Whatever price Stumptown is on the day it doesn’t matter as in the Grand National you need that bit of luck and for everything to go right.

After the Grand National I then get back on board Only By Night in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase (5:00pm). She produced a career best in the Arkle, but it was a bittersweet run as we came so close to winning, but we got our pockets picked in the last stride. However, if Majborough hadn’t made the mistake when he did he would have won anyway. You have to respect Kalif Du Berlais, but I think it is between her and L’Eau du Sud. Our girl has come out of Cheltenham well and you would be hopeful she would go very close. We knew she was going to improve for a fence, but she has improved with every run. It would be nice to see her win a Grade One.