Grand National Lucky Dip

Limerick Lace has plenty of experience for a seven-year-old having already racked up ten races over fences. On her latest run she won the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival where she had been heavily backed for success. That victory was over two and a half miles and she has only had one run so far over three miles so far in her career where she finished second to Coko Beach in the 53k Troytown Chase at Navan. Limerick Lace didn’t jump that well at Navan but her fencing was very good when winning at Cheltenham and her trainer feels she is generally a really good jumper. The victory in the Mares' Chase came after her handicap mark for the Grand National had been set so she is now rated six pounds higher than the mark she will race from at Aintree. Horses who are ahead of their handicap mark have a really good recent record in the Grand National. Stamina for the Grand National distance must be taken on trust but she is a full sister to Kim Muir winner Inothewayurthinkin who appears to have stamina in abundance. Limerick Lace also has three other siblings who have won at three miles so she would appear to have a fair chance of seeing out the marathon Aintree trip. More of a concern could be her temperament. It was noticeable at Cheltenham that he has an unusual head carriage and she definitely flashed her tail a couple of times on the run-in but that didn’t stop her winning. Trainer Gavin Cromwell had this to say about her after her win at Cheltenham: “She’s a bit of a madam, she almost kicked the cameraman on the way out and she’s broken a lot of white rail at home. She’s a bit of a lady, but you don’t mind when they’re that good.” Obviously her temperament stood up to inspection at Cheltenham but the atmosphere at Aintree can be white hot so her volatility needs to be taken into account if having a bet. There some question marks about Limerick Lace but she is one of the few in the field who could be ahead of their handicap marks. Definitely one for Grand National shortlists.