Corach Rambler eyes Grand National

After a tremendous Gold Cup performance at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler now has eyes set on success in the 2024 Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree.

Following the conclusion of the Cheltenham Festival, the next major horse racing event of the year is most certainly the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse in early April 2024. This race meeting takes place over three days, from Thursday, 11th April to Saturday, 13th April 2024. The Randox Grand National Steeple Chase is arguably the standout race of the event, and it is set to take place at 4pm on the third and final day, best known as ‘Randox Grand National Day’.

The most recent winner of the Grand National is Corach Rambler, who emerged victorious in the 2023 renewal of this highly prestigious race. On that occasion, Jockey Derek Fox was able to guide the Lucinda Russell trained horse to beat runner-up Vanillier by a margin of two and a quarter lengths by the conclusion of the race. Gaillard Due Mesnil, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, rounded off the top three of this race in third place.

At just 21 years of age, Cameron Sword became the youngest ever owner to have a winning horse in the long and illustrious history of the Grand National at the iconic Aintree Racecourse. Sword’s horse has the chance to repeat the feat and make it two consecutive wins in this race in the 2024 renewal in April.

The win in 2023 was certainly not the first in the Randox Grand National Steeplechase for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox. They had both experienced victory in this highly prestigious race on one previous occasion, which was in 2017, when One For Arthur emerged victorious following an entertaining race.

In that same year, Corach Rambler was the winner of the Ultima Handicap, fending off stern competition from James Slevin’s Fastorslow in second place and Jonjo O’Neill Jr’s Monbeg Genius in third. This was a second consecutive win in this race for Corach Rambler, who’d won this exact race at Cheltenham the year before in 2022.

We now fast forward to March 2024, where Corach Rambler took part in the most recent renewal of the Cheltenham Festival, where success was to be found. One performance stood out despite not resulting in a victory in the race. This came in the latest edition of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, which was won by the pre-race favourite Galopin Des Champs, ridden by Paul Townend.

In that race, Corach Rambler came in third place after coping tremendously with the testing ground and gave the two horses in front in the field a headache towards the end of the race, with Jack Kennedy’s Gerri Colombe coming in second.

After what was an impressive performance, sights are now set on the upcoming 2024 Randox Grand National at Aintree on ‘Randox Grand National Day’ on Saturday, 13th April. Understandably, trainer Lucinda Russell and co-owner Thomas Kendall.

Russell had this to say (via the Racing Post): “I’m absolutely over the moon. I said on Tuesday we weren’t going to run because of the ground. Your emotions say you don’t want to run him. I just want to pat him and look after him but he’s a racehorse and he loves his job. We knew the ground was safe and he’s just run his socks off.

“At the top of the hill I thought he was a little bit further back than he normally would be but as he came down the hill and turned for home I thought he might be able to do it again. I’m delighted with him. To finish third in the Gold Cup is the stuff of dreams. He’s the horse of a lifetime and I can’t get over how much people appreciate him.

“That run has filled us with even more confidence heading to Aintree. Bar the ground being softer than ideal, it couldn’t have been a better prep. We’re thrilled. Bring on the Grand National!”

Meanwhile, Kendall said (via the Racing Post): “All roads lead to Aintree. “That was an amazing buzz. He just seems to come alive here and I can’t believe it’s happened again. To finish third in the Gold Cup is a dream come true. He’s got a massive heart and gives you everything he’s got. He’s the cheapest horse I’ve ever bought but he doesn’t know how much he cost and the memories are priceless.”

It is clear that Corach Rambler may be in with a chance of winning the 2024 Randox Grand National Steeplechase, and following recent performances, optimism for his success in this prestigious race looks to be high.

Excitement and anticipation is building rapidly ahead of the 2024 Grand National, which is set to get underway for three days of enthralling racing from Thursday 11th April 2024.

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