Grand National countdown: Shantou Flyer team relishing big day
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Racinguk.com staff
Turning silver into gold has yet to happen for Shantou Flyer this season, but trainer Richard Hobson hopes that will change at Aintree on Saturday in the Randox Health Grand National.
Having finished second in each of his last four starts, including when coming within a neck of giving the Little Rissington handler his first Cheltenham Festival winner, the eight-year-old will attempt to go one better over the world-famous fences.
Victory for Hobson would not only be a significant boost for his own career in just his third full season with a licence, but also for owner Carl Hinchy, who hails from close to the Merseyside track and would be realising a long-held dream.
Shantou Flyer in action over the Grand National fences last year (PA)
Hobson said: "We are looking forward to it and the most important thing is getting there in one piece. It is a big day for a small yard like ours.
"Carl is from down the road and it is very much his neck of the woods. He has grown up watching the race and it is massive for him. For us to have a runner in that type of race is huge and it would be great if we could win it for Carl.
"He has had to carry those big weights in all those handicaps this year and there always seems to be something that comes up and does him.
"Ballyhill came and did him first time, and then Coo Star Sivola was another novice coming through the ranks who was fairly well handicapped in the Ultima (at Cheltenham).
"He always gives his all and the handicapper keeps putting him up. The only good thing about the Grand National is that he was entered before he was second at Cheltenham the first time, so he is in theory a bit better off."
market-rasen
18:10 Market-Rasen - Saturday August 17
_Shantou Flyer goes down fighting at Cheltenham last month _
While his stamina for the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile trip has to be taken on trust, there is no doubt in the mind of Hobson the former Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding, who was pulled up in the big race 12 months ago, will see it out this time around.
Hobson said: "I've never doubted him staying the trip. I think others have, but me and Carl have never doubted his stamina. He is the type of horse you ride on the gallops and will stay all day.
"We were just trying to get some form back into him, that is why we were running him over the shorter trips - to get him back enjoying himself and to get some form back into him.
"As we saw the other day, he was staying on and was coming back at Coo Star Sivola and with another two strides he would have got there.
"He is a much stronger horse this season, he is in fantastic order and loves his training. He got knocked sideways in the race last year and that's what made him pull up eventually."
Despite bookmakers dismissing the chances of Shantou Flyer, who will be partnered once again by rising star James Bowen, Hobson is optimistic he can out-run odds of around 66-1 and have the last laugh.
He added: "It is our third season in training and for us to be in a big race showing what we can do is great.
"We've been second in a couple of Grade Ones and won a Grade Two race and a couple of Listed races. We are setting the bar quite high, but if you don't have a go you will never know.
"I am as optimistic as you can be for a Grand National. If he gets a clear run and jumps well, I think he is in with a chance.
"He is completely overpriced for the race. They always say you want a class horse to win the National and he has got that bit of class."
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