Elsworth keeps fingers crossed for return to action in National

DOMINIC Elsworth faces an anxious wait before learning whether he can mark his injury comeback with a Grand National ride.

Sidelined for 14 months with concussion, the Guiseley-born rider has been booked to ride Skippers Brig for Cumbria trainer Nicky Richards.

However, the withdrawal yesterday of Katie Walsh’s intended mount Our Monty leaves connections requiring one more horse to pull out before tomorrow’s final cut off at 9.30am.

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Having beaten one-time ante-post favourite Ballabriggs at Kelso on his last outing, Richards is confident – if the horse can get to the start.

“There’s a couple of question marks about a few of them and it might be a bit of a stupid rule. If you’ve got a reserve why can’t you call them in up until 9.00am on Saturday?” queried the trainer. “He is a sound jumper. I wouldn’t be aiming for the National if he wasn’t. He seems to tick all the boxes, but you never know if they’ll stay.

“Not many, especially those down at the bottom with him, would have had the class to be third in a Boylesports Gold Cup to Poquelin. He’s just come lovely in his coat and I’m very happy with the horse. Dominic (Elsworth) came on Monday and schooled him over a couple of National fences that myself and the staff built over the weekend and he loved them.”

The same applies to Saltburn rider James Reveley, 22, who has been schooling That’s Rhythm over National fences at the Penrith yard of Martin Todhunter.

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Yet Reveley knows the key is getting a horse to settle; two years ago he was on the well-backed favourite Rambling Minster, trained by his father Keith, who simply did not settle before pulling up.

“I ride for Martin and the owner, James Callow, asked me at Catterick in February if I’d ride him,” said Reveley.

“He’s a small horse so it will come down to how he handles the fences, but he has some ability and a small squeak.”

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