Backstage ~ 2010 Grand National Runner
The photo above shows Gordon Elliott, trainer of Backstage
It is unlikely that trainer Gordon Elliot will run Backstage again prior to the 2010 Grand National at Aintree, in an attempt to protect his handicap mark. The 7 year old, owned by the Capranny Stable Staff Syndicate, won his last race, the Freebets Handicap Chase at Ffos Las, by ten lengths, on the 28th August 2009.
Prior to that he had run a good race in April at the Foxhunters Chase at the 2009 Aintree Grand National meeting, coming eighth behind Trust Fund. In that race he handled the Aintree fences and had clearly improved, and it was an improvement that just advanced over the season.
The following month he came seventh in the Cox's Cash & Carry Champion Hunters Chase at Newton Abbot, and by the beginning of July he had a achieved victory in both the Newwave Recruitment Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase and the Sheep Dip Whisky Novices' Hurdle at Perth. He then came a fine second and third in the Racing Welfare Novices' Hurdle and the Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot.
Recently ridden by Jason Maquire, it was Tom Scudamore who rode Backstage to victory at Ffos Las, so it remains to be seen which jockey will take the reigns at the 2010 Grand National, where he already has antepost odds of 27/1.
It was trainer Elliot that brought Silver Birch back from injury to win the National in 2007, and it would be remiss to rule him out with this gelding who was previously trained by Evan Williams. Backstage is therefore in the right hands, and he has already proved that he has good form over the fences, and seems to have the energy necessary to maintain the jumps of the rigorous Aintree racecourse.
Can lightening strike twice for Gordon Elliot and the Capranny Stable Syndicate, each of whom pays 100 euro towards him for the year? Included in the syndicate are all the trainer’s work-riders, the vet, the chief yardman and the head lad. It would indeed be ‘one for the people’ if Backstage were to win the 2010 Grand National!
