Greatrex: Bandit will make them all go

Mighty Bandit bids to continue his resurgence in the Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices’ Chase on Grand National day at Aintree.

It is just over two years since Warren Greatrex’s charge was bought out of Gordon Elliott’s yard for an eye-watering €420,000 and it perhaps did not look money well spent on his first few starts for new connections.

However, he has really found his calling over fences this season, winning his last three starts in handicaps, and Greatrex is looking forward to testing his powers at Grade One level on Saturday.

“He’s been a revelation this season, winning his last three. He’s been very impressive,” said Greatrex.

“He seems in really good form, I think the track will be fine and I think the ground will be fine.

“He is a very straightforward horse who just loves jumping fences and with a little bit of luck, he’s going to be bang there because I think he is just getting better and better.

“The fences seem to have brought him alive and he just loves it. Everyone will know they’ve had a race anyway.”

The likely favourite is Willie Mullins-trained Salvator Mundi, who made it third time lucky over fences with a wide-margin success at Thurles in February and won a Grade One novice hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago, while Gordon Elliott saddles both Kala Conti and King Of Kingsfield.

Having won her first two chase starts, Kala Conti was last seen chasing home Sixmilebridge in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and Robbie Power, racing manager to her owners Robcour, said: “She seems in very good form and was entered at Fairyhouse in the Grade One last weekend, but the rain came and the ground got very soft so we thought we’d wait.

“We think she’s a better mare on better ground and is very good on her day.”

Ben Pauling has fitted cheek pieces to No Questions Asked, who needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at the Cheltenham Festival.

Pauling said: “For a Grade One it might not be the strongest. Obviously Salvator Mundi was very good at Aintree last year and he appears to have been trained for the race.

“However, while no Grade One is a weak race and I wouldn’t have our lad nailed as a Grade One horse, if you’re going to run in one with a chance this looks as good an opportunity as he might get.

“He didn’t turn up at Cheltenham, the way we rode him didn’t suit him so I’m looking forward to getting him back out this week and I dare say he might put up a good performance as well.

“I just don’t think Cheltenham suits him, his only two poor runs in the last two seasons have been there. He’s a free-going type who travels well, but I don’t think he’s himself there.

“If they go a good gallop and he’s in good order, hopefully he’ll travel around there nicely.”