Griffin targets Galway Plate and Old Roan

Owned by Douglas Pryde and Jim Beaumont, whose blue and yellow colours were carried to Aintree glory by Sue Smith’s Auroras Encore in 2013, Maggio was a runaway 50-1 winner of the Betfred Handicap Chase – the rain-drenched race before the National – on Saturday under Saltburn jockey James Reveley.

Trained in Ireland by Patrick Griffin, the horse’s subsequent hike in the handicap – too late for this year’s National – is likely to guarantee a place in the 2017 race.

In the meantime, this summer’s Galway Plate – one of Ireland’s top handicap chases – is likely to be on the trip before a tilt at Aintree’s prestigious Old Roan Chase in October.

“When a horse wins like that it doesn’t take anything out of them and he is absolutely bouncing since, thankfully,” said the trainer’s son and assistant James.

“It was quite unreal watching the race. We went over quietly hopeful of a very good run, but the main worry was the weather.

“We thought just in that sort of company that you need everything in your favour and he is better on better ground.

“He always threatened to win a race like that and thankfully he duly obliged on the day.

“It’s all about the Grand National for his owners. The handicapper in England has given him 11lb to 151.

“We’ll have a look at the Galway Plate and then I’d imagine we’ll have a look at something like the Old Roan. I’d say that will be it then until the weights come out for the National.

“It was a great day, and any festival winner is brilliant, but on Grand National day there is 10 million-plus people watching.

“We knew we had him right for the day as he was being trained for the National. His owners had a few quid each-way on him.”

Meanwhile the aforementioned Reveley – a late substitute for Brian Hughes who had suffered a bone-crunching fall earlier in the afternoon – partners Master Hill in tomorrow’s Coral Scottish National at Ayr for Colin Tizzard, the trainer who has enjoyed so much big race success this season with Cue Card and Thistlecrack.

This four-mile stamina test also sees Folsom Blue bid to give Mouse Morris a hat-trick of National victories. The County Tipperary trainer has won the first two legs of what would be a historic treble with Rogue Angel in the Irish version and Rule The World in the big one at Aintree.

Both are owned by Gigginstown House Stud as is Folsom Blue, who was a creditable fourth in the Irish National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Seeyouatmidnight leads the Scottish charge for Sandy Thomson, while several horses who missed the cut for the Crabbie’s Grand National have been re-routed to Ayr.

They include the 2014 Aintree hero Pineau De Re, Becher Chase victor Highland Lodge, who will be ridden by Middleham’s Henry Brooke, and Alvarado, fourth on Merseyside in 2014 and 2015.

Champion Flat trainer John Gosden’s unbeaten Crazy Horse is one of five runners in the JLT Greenham Stakes at Newbury tomorrow.

The 2000 Guineas trial, famously won by Frankel in 2011 before his Classic triumph, was last used with success by Gosden two years ago when Kingman triumphed.

Crazy Horse, owned by and bred by his wife Rachel Hood, was last seen winning the Horris Hill over this course and distance.

However, Gosden did suffer a setback yesterday when his well-regarded Foundation was beaten by the previously unheralded Stormy Antarctic for Ed Walker in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, a trial for the 2000 Guineas at the end of the month.

Blaming the one-mile trip on soft ground, Gosden expects Foundation, the mount of Frankie Dettori, to reappear in York’s Betfred Dante Stakes next month where the colt’s form will determine whether he lines up in the blue riband Epsom Derby.

“Foundation is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, he did get tired on the ground but the winner won very well,” he added.

“I’m delighted with him, and I’d like to think he’ll go for the Dante next.”