What A Friend

An 8 year old jointly owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason, he is half brother to My Little Lady a winning pointer. Trained by the champion producing Paul Nicholls, who has won most of the top races, including The Cheltenham Gold Cup an impressive four times, but is still looking for a winner in The Grand National.

What A Friend is already a Dual Grade 1 winner and ridden by Daryl Jacob he was placed 4th in this years Gold Cup where he wore blinkers for the first time. He was edged out of 3rd place by Kauto Star also trained by Nicholls in what many considered the best running in recent years.

Jockey, Jacob, had five rides for Nicholls at Cheltenham and writing on Twitter Nicholls said “Daryl Jacob rides What a Friend in Grand National if the ground is good". The jockey said “I’m delighted to keep the ride and I thought he ran a cracking race in the Gold Cup,”

Last April he won the Totesport Bowl at Aintree when ridden by Ruby Walsh who thought he might be suited to The National. An avid Man Utd. fan Walsh is likely to be pitted against Sir Alex’s horse on favourite The Midnight Club or possibly Niche Market [also trained by Nicholls]. Sir Alex is unlikely to attend as Man Utd have a home game against Fulham on the same day.

The weights for The National were announced in February with What A Friend carrying 11st 6lb. Official Handicapper Phil Smith, reassesing the horse after Cheltenham, said he believes he will be carrying much less weight than his ability deserves. What A Friend will be carrying 15lb less than if the weights could be redrawn today.

Although, he’s an antepost favourite, he is very heavy and just a little too young for this race but another year or so and he could be a real contender.

There are bound to be lots of Red pounds on this one with Man Utd. fans hoping the horse can emulate the success of the football team.