Butterworth bids for audacious double
Preview: Sweden, Sunday (8.03pm BST)
Stromsholm: Det 42. Svenskt Grand National (Chase) 2m6½f, turf, 5yo+
FRED BOJANGALS (Barbara Butterworth/Conor O'Farrell) represents British hopes in this 300,000 kr chase staged on the picturesque track in the grounds of Stromsholm Castle.
The field of 11 includes horses from six countries - Sweden, Denmark, Britain, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland - and supporters of 10-year-old Fred Bojangals can take encouragement as he is rated more than a stone higher than Neptune Joly, the last British-trained winner of this race when scoring for Michael Scudamore and James O'Farrell in 2007.
It was James O'Farrell who advised Barbara Butterworth to buy Fred Bojangals, a Sedgefield winner in April for Ann Hamilton, as he considers him an ideal type for this race. Sunday will be the first time the horse runs for the Butterworths.
Liam Treadwell enjoyed his finest hour when winning the Grand National at Aintree on board 100-1 chance Mon Mome three years ago and has been snapped up to partner Czech Republic-trained Godea (Stanislav Popelka), who won his three completed chases last year and ran an encouraging fifth last month in his first run since October.
Swedish trainer Dennis Persson and German trainer Elfie Schnakenberg have each won two of the last four runnings of this race and saddle two horses each.
Persson has a bright chance with Amber Hill (Niklas Loven), robbed of a favourite's chance when withdrawn through injury last year, while Schnakenberg's best hope is Alanco (Cevin Chan), runner-up to stablemate Gluckstag in this 12 months ago.
Also on Sunday
Stromsholm: Det 35. Svenskt Champion Hurdle 2m 2f 110yds, turf, 4yo+, 11.45am BST
The Cumbria-based mother-daughter trainer-jockey team of the Butterworths try their luck in the opening race on the card with Knight Valliant (Barbara Butterworth/Miss Elizabeth Butterworth), a winner at Catterick and Ayr last year.
The ability to win round Catterick should stand him in good stead on this tight circuit, but the last two winners of the race, Omoto Sando (Arnfinn Lund/Henrik Engblom) and Nuevo Leon (Elfie Schnakenberg/Oliver Schnakenberg) will be strongly fancied, while front-running Symphonias Maximus (Lotta Lien/Christopher Roberts) could be hard to catch.
Treadwell also has a ride in this, partnering the Czech Republic hope Martien (Stanislav Popelka), an improving five-year-old who scored at Kolesa in April.
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