Lucinda Russell’s Grand National winner One For Arthur back in full training with his comeback run at Kelso now only four weeks away
The plan is to retrace our steps from last season and work backwards from Aintree next April
WHEN Belinda McClung and Debs Thomson — now famous as the Golf Widows — bought One For Arthur, their dream was to win the Grand National.
Countless owners and thousands of horses over the years have started out with the same aim.
Five months ago, it became a reality for us all.
It has been a wonderful experience since Aintree and we’ve done plenty celebrating since. While we were living it up, Arthur was on his summer break in the Borders — but he’s now back and ready to go again.
He’s been doing pre-training work and galloping around the fields quite slowly over long distances to build his stamina back up.
But with his comeback run at Kelso now only four weeks away, the time has come to get him back into full training.
This morning, he’ll do his first fast trips up the gallops to get him in shape for next month’s return.
The stamina work is done. Now it’s time to use our hill to get the speed back into him.
The plan is to retrace our steps from last season and work backwards from Aintree next April.
MOST READ
People have asked why we won’t have a crack at a big staying chase of the kind Gold Cup horses run in, but I don’t see the sense in that.
We know what we’re good at and, more importantly, we know what brings out the best in him.
Four miles-plus over Aintree’s famous fences is definitely his thing.
That’s where he’s at his best, so why deviate from the plan we have to get him there?
He will start out at Kelso on October 28 before going back to Aintree for the Becher Chase in December. After that, it will be on to Warwick for the Classic Chase that he won last January.
Then, if all’s well, every road leads back to Liverpool on April 14.
Life is going to be much tougher for him in those 3m races because he’s gone up 8lbs in the ratings for winning the National.
But the big thing we have on our side is his age.
He is still only eight, so I believe there is more improvement in him.
Eight is young for a Grand National winner. Only three horses his age have managed to win in the last 20 years, and he also did his best piece of work ever the week before the race.
That has me convinced he’s still improving and can get even better this season.
The nature of handicapping means he’ll now be carrying a heavier burden in his races, but he’s bigger, stronger and more experienced.
Perth runner
PERTH’S summer season always seems to go in a flash and I can’t believe we’re already on to the final meeting there today and tomorrow.
In today’s 5.05, we’re running MOORSTOWN in the 3m handicap chase and, with the ground very much on the soft side following this week’s deluge, we are keen on his chance.
He is very lightly raced because he’s had a few physical issues but I think he’s on a good handicap mark
Put it this way, on the mark he’s currently got I believe he’d have a really good chance of winning the Grand National if it was run again tomorrow.
The biggest challenge with any racehorse is keeping them fit and that’s the job for the staff here at Arlary Stables and myself.
National Hunt horses are big, strong, tough animals — but they are also fragile, so you need a huge element of luck to get them to the races you plan for them.
Last year everything fell into place perfectly — although there were still plenty of sleepless nights worrying about it.
All we are hoping for is another clear run so we can go back to Aintree next spring with a chance for him to become the first horse since Red Rum to win the National more than once.