Click here for Runners, Tips and Free Bets on the Grand National 2012
Could Synchronised become the first horse since 1934 to do the Cheltenham Gold Cup-Grand National double?
The horse has previously won the Welsh and Midland Nationals and, as H&H went to press, trainer Jonjo O’Neill was “keen” for the nine-year-old Sadler’s Wells gelding to run in the Aintree spectacle – “if he were right”.
If he were to win, he would be only the second horse in history to win both races in the same year – the first and only being Golden Miller in 1934.
Currently Synchronised has top weight of 11st 10lb and is the favourite, as short as 8-1 with some bookmakers to win the 4m 4f marathon on 14 April.
The last horse to attempt the double was Master Oats in 1995, when he finished seventh in the Grand National, while 1991 winner Garrison Savannah finished second.
Can Synchronised go one better?
Guy Upton, assistant trainer at Jonjo O’Neill’s yard, confirmed to H&H that the Grand National was still the plan for Synchronised.
“We’ll see how he comes out of the Gold Cup, though he’s still entered to run,” he said.
“He normally takes a while to recover after a race, but he seems fresh. JP [McManus, owner] and Jonjo will talk about it nearer the time.”
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 March 2012)
