Sean Flanagan’s William Hill blog: Vanillier has found a new lease of life this season

William Hill ambassador Sean Flanagan discusses his chances in the Grand National, with the leading jockey set to take the ride aboard Vanillier.

Aintree, Saturday

This is my eighth ride in the Grand National (4:00pm) now and you get to the point where you think it is grand to have another ride in the race so let’s kick on and let’s go.

This is my third ride in the race on VANILLIER and Gavin Cromwell is a genius to be bringing him back there in good form on the same mark he was second off two years ago. The first year riding him it was great finishing second, but very frustrating at the same time. On the day, and for a couple of weeks after, I was frustrated. It was not until Corach Rambler went and ran third in the Gold Cup the next season that I then realised he was obviously very well handicapped.

We went back last year, but he wasn’t in the same vein of form as he was the year before, and definitely not in the same vein of form he is this year. He seems a lot happier in himself this year and having those blinkers on in his last couple of runs seems to have revitalised him a lot. Having gone the cross country route with him this season, and jumping those banks fences, I think might have just given him a new lease of life, while the blinkers have helped him as well. In his runs prior to the Grand National this year he has been much fitter as he has been more competitive.

He is a very hard horse to get fit and he just seems happier in himself and in better form. His Cheltenham run was a really good run in the cross country race. We had a slight moment in the race, but thankfully we came through it. There is a rail out the back of the canal turn in the race and I had a mind blank for a second as I couldn’t remember if I had to go around it or inside it. Anyway, I jumped it straight and ended up a long way back, but at the same time I managed to get a breather into him and he has come home really well. As a result he has probably not had as hard a race as he would have had. If he goes and wins a Grand National on the back of it you would say it was a help to him.

I’m going there with this lad looking forward to riding him. He is just a very clever and smart horse. You can put him where you want and sit back and enjoy him. He has been a fantastic horse for the owners as he is one of their only jump horses and they are really enjoying him and that is the most important thing above anything else. Last year when we were chatting about it, and doing previews, we were saying if I Am Maximus takes to the fences then he will be hard to beat, but I don’t really see one of them this year. You have got Hewick in there and if he takes to the fences we know he has got a high level of ability, but I don’t have him down as a Grand National horse. That is nothing against the horse though.

It is a very interesting race and you could probably come up with 10 names that you wouldn’t be surprised to see winning it. You would have to be complimentary of Stumptown as he has done nothing wrong. He won well at Cheltenham and I do think he will love jumping these fences and he will love the trip. At a decent price you would have to fancy Intense Raffles. Would the drier ground be a negative, possibly, but at the same time over this trip he won’t be that slow not to go on it.

It is the Grand National at the end of the day and I would be thrilled if Vanillier can run into a place again and that is probably my realistic mindset. Statistically everything is completely against me as I don’t think any horses have gone there for three years and won on their third visit. Last year the ground was a bit slow for him, but this year it should be spot on for him. It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility if he went one better than two years again, but at the same time we would be thrilled for a good clear round.

Marine Nationale update

For those wondering about Marine Nationale he is on course for Punchestown. Talking to Barry Connell yesterday he said he was in good nick and that he has come out of the Champion Chase well.

It was a fantastic week. I didn’t get the chance to take it all in as we are back to the grind quite quickly here, but hopefully we will sit down for a couple of days when the season ends and enjoy a bit of a let down. I was really sweet on him going into the Champion Chase as Barry and his team brought him along beautifully and he peaked perfectly on the day. I thought the big four races were out of reach, but thankfully Marine Nationale came along for us and hopefully he can now take that form on to Punchestown.