Greenall backing White Rhino to punch his weight in Sefton

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have called on the services of champion jockey Sean Bowen, as they look to land another knockout blow in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase with White Rhino.

Riding at the peak of his powers, Bowen is over 70 clear of his nearest pursuer, his brother, James, in this year’s race for top spot in the jockeys’ standings and the locally-based training team have full faith his experience and prowess can come to the fore in Saturday’s feature at Aintree.

Greenall said: “Especially around the National course at Aintree, you need someone with experience and Sean is just so good.

“A lot of jockeys can need a ride (to get used to a horse), but he’ll just get on White Rhino, get a feel for him down to the start and will have looked through the form and know the score totally. If Rhino is on top form he will definitely get the job done.

“Since he was pony racing he has always been such a nice guy with no side to him and some jockeys when they get beat come in angry and it can depend what day you catch him on.

“But with Sean, if he’s beat by one of yours he’s the first to say well done and it’s never false, he is just a genuine guy, who reads his form and has the ability to get on a horse and just understand it and can ride any sort of race.

“He’s got it all, but most importantly he’s so personable.”

Joining White Rhino in the field is stablemate and last year’s third Gaboriot, as Greenall and Guerriero bid for their second win in the race after a memorable moment with Gesskille in this race two years ago.

“We are pretty local to the track and Aintree is one we like to win at, so if we have any horses we think will be suited to the track we push them that way,” continued Greenall.

“To win at Aintree with Gesskille was very special and definitely got us going. These races are really important and really hard to win but both of our horses this time have plenty of ability.

“They are primed and we have been targeting these races for a long time, so they have been away to Bangor for a gallop and will be pretty much spot on.

“Our horses tend to come on for the run and will hopefully keep improving throughout the season, but I think they are ready to rock and roll.

“It’s going to be lovely ground and there will be lots of space and White Rhino in particularly has lots of ability.

“He bled twice last season having made a really good start over fences. He’s a short enough price but he seems fine at home and they normally don’t go as quick as a normal Saturday handicap so I’m hoping it will suit him.”

He went on: “A lot of our horses do come from France and a lot of their steeplechase fences lend themselves more to our National style of fence rather than normal park tracks.

“I think compared to normal courses, the Grand National style definitely rejuvenated Gaboriot. He’s got plenty of ability, but can be a bit of a thinker and I think he just loves that track.”