CAP fits perfectly
| Date | 09 April 2021 |
| Published date | 09 April 2021 |
| Publication title | Huddersfield Daily Examiner |
Jonjo O'Neill's nine-year-old may be a short-priced favourite for the Aintree marathon - but there are compelling reasons to believe he can land the odds in the world's greatest steeplechase and provide owner Trevor Hemmings with a record fourth victory.
He finished a fine third as a novice in the 2019 Scottish Grand National at Ayr, showing his liking for a stamina test.
He was always threatening to make up into a top staying chaser and hinted at that when eighth in the Kim Muir Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival.
But his form has gone to a different level this season.
He ran them ragged in the usually competitive Ladbrokes Trophy - formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup - at Newbury in November and managed to get a nice low weight of 10st5lb from the British Horseracing Authority's lead chase handicapper Martin Greenwood when the weights were first revealed in February.
He then warmed up for his crack at the Grand National with another wide-margin win in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso at the start of last month. He was put up 14lb for that success by the handicapper, so as he runs off his former mark of 145 is theoretically 'well-in'. But it is more than just that why he can win.
He is an improving chaser who jumps well, travels superbly and appears to have the staying power needed for the Aintree challenge.
He has a similar profile to a couple of Hemmings' former Aintree heroes in Many Clouds and Ballabriggs.
Many Clouds also won the Hennessy, but had to carry more weight for his victory in 2015.
Ballabriggs also ran in the Kim Muir - although he won - the year before his victory in 2011, and also used the Premier Chase as a stepping stone to glory, finishing second before landing the big one.
Cloth Cap looks to have all the hallmarks of a Grand National winner and can cap a fine campaign on Merseyside.
He has been superbly ridden by Tom Scudamore, who will be looking to emulate his grandfather Michael who landed the Grand National with Oxo in 1959. He is sure to be near the head of affairs throughout - like Ballabriggs and Many Clouds were - and providing he takes to the big fences on his debut, which he appears tailor-made for, Cloth Cap can come out on top and give trainer O'Neill a second Grand National win 11 years on from Don't Push It's win.
As ever with the Grand National there are plenty of others who have the right credentials to go close to upsetting the favourite.
Leading the charge is probably Tom Lacey's KIMBERLITE CANDY. Unlike Cloth Cap, he won't be making his debut over the fearsome Aintree obstacles.
In fact he appears a dab hand at them, having finished second on both his starts at the course in the last two Becher Chases.
He was only beaten by dual winners Walk In The Mill and Vieux Lion Rouge in 2019 and 2020 respectively. But he will be...
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