What a Friend offers Ferguson hope

The Manchester United manager’s horse What A Friend is set to line up in the John Smith’s Grand National on April 9 following a brilliant fourth in last Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup with a career-best performance.

After nearly catching his illustrious stablemate Kauto Star on the line in a doughty battle for third, champion trainer Paul Nicholls believes What A Friend is ideally handicapped for a National tilt rather than defending the Grade One Totesport Bowl that he won so memorably a year ago.

Given Ferguson’s longstanding antipathy towards Liverpool, it would be ironic if the racecourse was to provide his greatest triumph in his ‘second’ sport – one that enables him to escape from the Old Trafford maelstrom.

“As we suspected, better ground and blinkers saw him post a much -improved effort in the Gold Cup,” said Nicholls yesterday. “He could run in the Totesport Bowl but on good ground he is highly likely to run in the Grand National.”

As short as 16-1 for the Aintree spectacle, What A Friend – second in the 2009 Hennessy to Denman – will be ridden by his Gold Cup jockey Daryl Jacob because Ruby Walsh, the  No 1 stable jockey at the Nicholls yard, will ride The Midnight Club for Willie Mullins, his primary employer in Ireland.

It is, nevertheless, a blow to Sam Thomas who has won the Grade One Lexus Chase on What A Friend and finished second when Ferguson’s horse, who he co-owns with Ged Mason, chased home Denman in the 2009 Hennessy.

Don’t Push It is on course to defend his Grand National title following his eye-catching run at the Cheltenham Festival.

Despite finishing out of the money in 10th place behind Buena Vista in the Pertemps Final over hurdles, and at a trip far inferior to the four-and-a-half mile Aintree marathon, it was a performance that delighted connections.

“Everything’s fine. He’s come out of the race good and we are looking forward to going back to Aintree again” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“He ran well, he got a little bit outpaced at the top of the hill and he ran on again. You’d have to be happy with him. All roads lead to Aintree, that’s the plan.”

Don’t Push It, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by AP McCoy, is generally available at 16-1.

However, Midnight Chase – fifth in the Gold Cup – will swerve the National in favour of the Totesport Bowl, says trainer Neil Mulholland, who spent his riding career in North Yorkshire.

Mulholland was delighted with his horse’s performance under replacement jockey Tom Scudamore but fears the National would be too much of a test for his progressive chaser.

“The Gold Cup was run in a record time and our lad was only beaten by 19 lengths – so he has run a very good race,” said the trainer.

“We definitely don’t have any regrets about running. I thought he was going to be tailed off at one stage and I was about to bury my head, but then he’s stayed on really well at the finish.

“I would say he’ll go to Aintree next, but he won’t be running in the National. He’s only a second -season chaser and we’ll probably leave that for next year.

“The Bowl will be his race. I’m not sure if (Gold Cup victor) Long Run will be there or not, but we’re going to be bumping into those horses a lot now anyway.

“Our fellow is really a top handicapper and we’ve had a really good run with him. He doesn’t owe anybody anything and hopefully he can pick up prize money in the top races and maybe win a nice one somewhere down the line.”

Irish raider Pandorama will not run again this season after returning home sore following his run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

However, Knockara Beau is to try his hand against the best staying hurdlers at Aintree following his Herculean effort behind Buena Vista at Cheltenham.

George Charlton’s admirable eight-year-old will take in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle.

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