'I'm surprised he's that' - Henry de Bromhead shock at Minella Times weight

Tiger Roll is not the only former Grand National winner whose connections were left reeling by the weight he was handed for this year’s race.

Minella Times, who gave Rachael Blackmore a historic first success for a female jockey last year, has been raised 15lb in the handicap for 2022, even though he has fallen and then been pulled up in two runs this season.

“I’m surprised he’s that,” said trainer Henry de Bromhead. “I didn’t think he went up as much as that after he won and going on his form this year I’m surprised he got increased.

“He loves it around Aintree and certainly did last year, so hopefully he’ll come back to form now. He’s been a little bit off form recently but he looks like he’s coming back to form and hopefully he will by then.

“They certainly have to enjoy it to do well around there and hopefully going back will help him find his form.”

Rachael Blackmore: 'It would be fantastic to be able to do it again'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Blackmore received worldwide recognition and numerous awards after last year’s win, notably being acclaimed BBC Sports Personality's World Sport Star. She is keen to win the National again and said: “It’s the wheel of being a jockey, you just want to go out and do it again.

“From the day you ride your first winner you’re happy, but you just want to ride another one and that continues on. It would be fantastic to be able to do it again.

“He’s been a little bit disappointing this season but Henry will get him there in tip-top shape and he’s in very capable hands.”

De Bromhead also has Chris’s Dream in the race and Blackmore said: “He was going very well last year when unfortunately Darragh [O'Keeffe] came off him.”

Asked whether she might switch mounts, Blackmore said: “I highly doubt it.”

Cloth Cap: breathing difficulties stopped him from finishing last year's Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Last year’s favourite Cloth Cap is set to return to Aintree, 12 months after being pulled up with a wind problem. “The plan is to come back and he’s in grand form,” said trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

“It was frustrating last year but these things happen, he’d never had an issue before. We sorted it out – hopefully – and he’ll go to either Doncaster or Kelso, then head back to Aintree. He’s in grand form and if we can keep him in that form it would be great.”

But O’Neill will not be able to run Midlands Grand National winner Time To Get Up as he has not had the six chase outings needed to be allowed to take his chance.

“He was supposed to go to the Classic Chase at Warwick and he had a bit of a problem with a joint and couldn’t go,” the trainer said.

“Because he couldn’t run by the 13th he didn’t qualify, he’d only had five runs over fences. It’s a bit annoying but that’s the way it goes.”

Randox Grand National card and betting (Aintree, Saturday, April 9)

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