The Randox Aintree Grand National Festival is just over a week away and Henry De Bromhead has given a glowing report for his Ryanair hero Heart Wood. The Choeur Du Nord gelding has been in excellent form this season, with three wins from four. The latest came in the Ryanair, where he beat Jonbon by ten lengths. Heart Wood may have proved second fiddle again to Fact To File, but he was withdrawn late due to the ground.
Jonbon has won the last two runnings of the Melling, but has work to do to turn the form around with Heart Wood, who is raring to go. Henry De Bromhead told the Racing Post that: “All roads lead to Aintree for Heart Wood. He seems to be flying this season, better than ever, and I’ve been delighted with him since Cheltenham. He’s come out of the Ryanair bouncing and we’ve decided to go for the Melling Chase.
“He seems to like Cheltenham. But you would imagine two and a half miles around Aintree would be just about ideal for him, too. He seems pretty adaptable. He’s done nothing wrong this season and got better with every start. So hopefully he continues on that upward curve next week.”
Grand National “been the plan all year for Monty’s Star” – Henry De Bromhead
Henry De Bromhead also spoke of his two runners in the Grand National, Monty’s Star and Gorgeous Tom. The yard remarkably landed the forecast in the 2021 renewal with Minella Times and Balko Des Flos. In the process, Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to win the staying pinnacle.
De Bromhead said “the plan is for both to run. It’s been the plan all year for Monty’s Star. He has a touch of class and hopefully he has the right sort of profile for the race. He seems to be in good form and everything has gone well in the build-up.
“Gorgeous Tom is a year younger but has some decent form in good races and hopefully the National will suit. We haven’t decided anything with regard to jockey bookings yet and we’ll sort all that out in the next week.”
On the extent of his Aintree team, De Bromhead further added: “We’ll have about ten or 11 runners over the three days. Inthepocket has won at Aintree before and he’ll go for the Red Rum. He was a bit unlucky in the Grand Annual and seemed to be going well when he fell.”