Definitly Red to have two warm-up races ahead of Grand National tilt

The ever popular chestnut horse, trained at Malton by Brian Ellison, is the sole Yorkshire representative amongst the 106 runners declared for the Aintree marathon on April 10.

The field is, as expected, headed by 2018 and 2019 dual winner Tiger Roll whose hat-trick attempt was denied last April when the iconic race became a high-profile sporting casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Now 12 years of age, Definitly Red was one of the favourites for the 2017 National before having to be pulled when jockey Danny Cook’s saddle slipped.

However the chaser has four Grade Two victories to his name – including the 2018 renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

But he was virtually tailed off behind Cyrname in this season’s Charlie Hall before suffering a slithering fall in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase – a race won by the resurgent Yorkhill under 2013 National-winning rider Ryan Mania.

However Martin says Definitly Red appears to have suffered no ill-effects and is likely to head to Newbury’s Denman Chase on Saturday week and then back to Kelso on March 6 to bid to record successive wins in the Premier Chase at the picturesque Borders track.

The horse’s high handicap rating means that he’s virtually assured of a place in the big race line-up. “He’s been schooled a couple of times sine the fall and I don’t think much bothers him,” Martin told The Yorkshire Post.

“The plan is to give him a run at Newbury in the Denman – it’s a long shot but worth it – and then go back to Kelso all being well. There are not many places to go with him.”

Martin has previously indicated that this is likely to be Definitly Red’s last season in training following a career that has yielded 15 wins from 36 starts and over £450,000 in prize money. Though no decision to retire the horse has been made, he added: “Let’s hope he makes it (Aintree). It would be a nice finale.”

Entries from the North include the aforementioned Yorkhill, who could reappear in Wetherby’s Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday, and stablemate Bellshill. Owned by golfer Lee Westwood and businessman David Armstrong, they’re trained in Berwickshire by Sandy Thomson whose Seeyouatmidnight previously ran in the National.

Nick Alexander, who also trains north of the border, has entered soft ground specialist Lake View Lad who holds eyecatching weekend entries at both Wetherby and Sandown.

Meanwhile Takingrisks, winner of Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase, has been entered by Cumbrian trainer Nicky Richards, though the Scottish Grand National remains the preferred target.

Of the 106 entries, 43 are trained in Ireland and two in France. The Grand National has gone to Ireland on 27 occasions, most recently Tiger Roll in 2019. France has taken the honours twice, the most recent being Cortolvin (1867).

The Irish raiders include Jessica Harrington’s Magic Of Light who was runner-up to Tiger Roll two years ago. Tony Martin’s Anibale Fly, who was fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2019, is another eyecatching entry along with 2019 Irish Grand National victor Burrows Saint for trainer Willie Mullins.

The complexion of the race, and final 40 runner field, will become clearer when the weights are revealed later this month. However there’s little possibily at present that a significant crowd will be permitted to attend the National – officials will be hoping that owners are allowed to return to racing by then.

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