Chicago Heads To Aintree
Gordon Elliott must be delirious with anticipation of the 2012 Grand National, which takes place at Aintree on April 14th, because Chicago Grey is making all the right moves for a horse that is being primed to take home the winning title.
His latest run, in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park, resulted in a nice handy second place which delighted the Grand National winning trainer so it’s all go for the National for which Chicago Grey is currently 16/1 and fourth favourite with Paddy Power Bookmakers.
Nine-year-old Chicago Grey will bypass next month’s Cheltenham Festival despite wining the four-mile National Hunt Chase last season, and instead will be prepared for the National something Gordon Elliott knows all about having won the much coveted title in 2007 with Silverbirch.
“He’s good and will go straight to the Grand National now,” said the County Meath handler.
“We were very happy with his run at Gowran. The two and a half miles was way too short for him.”
The stats aren’t in his favour however and Elliott will be bucking more than 50 years of trends as no grey has been successful in the Grand National since Nicolaus Silver in 1961!
Past Grand National winner Ballabriggs has been retired.
