Rocker Roll Comes to an End

Alan King’s staying chaser West End Rocker had been on something of a roll coming into the Totesport.com Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday and was strongly fancied to complete a hat-trick of recent victories. He failed to get to grips with the testing conditions however and now his potential challenge for the John Smith’s Grand National must be in some doubt, writes Elliot Slater.

On the face of it the heavy going shouldn’t have presented a problem to the nine-year-old gelding who had won in grand style last time out in Warwick’s Grade 3 Classic Chase, running-on bravely in heavy ground over three-miles-five furlongs to account for Minella Boys by three-quarters-of-a-length. Four weeks earlier he had won a competitive staying chase at Newbury on good ground, beating old favourite Cornish Sett by a length-and-a-quarter, giving the runner-up 11lbs.

So, even though he had risen the weights, the trip and ground at Haydock shouldn’t have presented a major problem. Indeed, for much of the race things appeared to be going to plan as the 8/1 shot moved up menacingly behind the leaders as they headed towards the final mile.

From the fourth last though things suddenly went wrong and very quickly jockey Wayne Hutchinson found himself fighting a losing battle as West End Rocker soon became tailed off before crashing through the second last, at which point he was pulled up. Anyone thinking about placing a Grand National bet on him will no doubt be worried about the manner of his performance.

A 25/1 shot to land the Aintree spectacular on April 9 prior to his disappointing effort at Haydock, West End Rocker was pushed out to 33/1 by some firms, although many left him unchanged, clearly taking the view that conditions were just too testing and he didn’t handle the ground. That may well be the case, but King’s charge needs to show he has recovered from the exhausting slog at Haydock before being backed with any confidence for the Grand National.