Lucinda Russell’s William Hill blog: Couldn’t have Corach Rambler in a better place

Corach Rambler

We are very aware of the statistics and they say that he’s run a really good race in the Gold Cup and he’s finished with his head in the air meaning he’s finished really tired. He wasn’t that far behind Galopin Des Champs who is a superstar and on that run he’s the right favourite for the National being three pounds well-in.

He came back from Cheltenham very tired like all of the others did. He didn’t want to speak to you on Saturday and he was a little bit perkier on Sunday, but you could still see he was feeling the effects of the Gold Cup run. On Monday, he was right back to his best and so in 48 hours he had recovered mentally. It will take a bit more time for him to recover physically, but Scu [Peter Scudamore] rides him every day, and feels he’s already back to how we want him.

Our whole plan with running him in the Gold Cup was that we knew he’d improve from it and sure enough he has. That was our aim the whole way through the season and it doesn’t matter what the statisticians say. Looking at the horse now he looks fabulous and Scu confirmed it as he’s absolutely bouncing. He’s enthusiastic, he’s moving fantastically and it’s almost like the big day at Cheltenham adds that little bit to him as an athlete.

I’m probably ruining the price, but he’s in really good place and he’s exactly where I want him and we’re delighted with him. He probably ran the best race he’s ever run and that shows us that the plan has worked and he’s improved this season. It looked as if he’d had a hard race on first look, but I look at him now and I honestly think the Gold Cup has added to him not detracted from him. He’s in a very similar place to where he was 12 months ago and we can’t wait for Aintree.

I was anxious about Cheltenham and I was anxious about his recovery but both have gone really well. I feel he’s where we want him, but I’m happy at this point. I must admit I’m not sleeping much but he’s in grand order and that’s the most important thing.

Apple Away

Apple was given a pretty tough task at Cheltenham and having reviewed how the season has gone, we think hurdles might be the best route forward for her. She’s run to a very good level over fences, but hasn’t improved as we thought she would. Most of our horses do improve for fences and end up going up 10 pounds compared to hurdles, but she hasn’t quite done that.

We’re not ruling out chasing again, but at Aintree she’ll have entries over hurdles. That was the scene of her greatest performance to date and I think she uses up a lot of energy jumping fences whereas hurdling comes much easier to her.

The Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles could be the race for her if all goes to plan.