past winners

grand national 2007 /

Point Barrow in Good Form 11/04/07

Pat Hughes, who trains Point Barrow, the ante-post second favourite with Betfair for Saturday's John Smith's Grand National, confessed that he will be disappointed if his stable star does not finish in the money at Aintree.

Hughes, who will be having his first runner in the race, is bullish about the prospects of last year’s Irish National winner completing the double, declaring: “If Point Barrow can avoid trouble, I definitely think he will be in the first four.”

Point Barrow had a run over hurdles at Navan three weeks ago, and Hughes stressed that he could not be happier with his condition.

He added: “He bruised a foot after he won the Pierse Chase at Leopardstown in January, but he was back in work on February 12 and, though he then knocked the same foot which caused him to miss his intended race at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day, we have had a clear run with him since he ran over hurdles at Navan last time, so there are no excuses there.”

Point Barrow has form on testing ground, but the going was almost good when he won his Irish National and Hughes has no worries on that score.

He added: “By all accounts, Aintree have done a great job with the watering and will continue to turn on the taps during racing, and the ground is likely to be better than it was in last year's Irish National and certainly better than it was at Fairyhouse this week.

“Point Barrow is a horse who travels so well that ground is not a problem. He stays and I have no qualms about his jumping, so all we need is luck in running.”

Trainer Nick Williams confirmed that Philson Run will take his chance in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National.

He said: “When Philson Run won the 2005 Midlands Grand National the going was good to soft and my absolutely perfect going for the race would be the same.

“The plan was always to get him to Aintree fit and keen, so he's only had the one race at Haydock this term.

“I was a bit disappointed with that run, but he was there until he made a mistake. He may have been a bit tired. I suppose I see Joe's Edge as having a good chance. He's really the only one who's shown improved form since the weights came out. But I'm positive. I'm going there to win.”

The ground remains Good (watering to maintain). All the Grand National course was watered again today. Watering will continue during the meeting on all courses.