Auroras duo seek Grand National encore with outsider Maggio

Punters have been warned not to ignore Maggio as the Irish challenger's colourful owners bid to land a second Randox Health Grand National in five years.

Jim Beaumont, a one-time bell-boy in Liverpool who has been going to Aintree since he was three, and independent financial adviser Douglas Pryde, sprang a huge surprise when Auroras Encore triumphed at 66-1 in 2013.

Now they are trying again with Maggio, who is trained by Patrick Griffin, and was being aimed at the last two Nationals.

"The three veterans are coming!" Beaumont joked. "I’m 84, Douglas is 64 and the horse is about 94!"

Maggio, who is actually 13, won a handicap chase on the Mildmay course at Aintree at 50-1 in 2016 and finished tenth in the Topham Chase over the National fences the previous year.

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Explaining his two National near-misses, Beaumont said: "Last year he injured himself on April Fools' Day before the National and we had to pull him out. And the year before he missed the cut by three.

"Nobody is mentioning him this time and he’s been keeping a low profile; there has been no four-mile race for him over the last couple of months, so we had to send him to Down Royal three weeks ago to get him qualified."

Pryde and Beaumont won with 66-1 shot Auroras Encore in 2013Credit: John Grossick (racingpost/photos.com)

Maggio is available at 100-1 for the National but that does not put off Beaumont, who said: "Auroras Encore was the same price this time in his year, in fact on Betfair I backed him at 300-1."

Maggio will be ridden by Brendan Powell, whose trainer-father of the same name won the 1988 Grand National on Rhyme 'n' Reason.

Powell said on Tuesday: "I'm really looking forward to it. Nick Scholfield was originally going to ride, but when he was approached by Paul Nicholls to ride Vicente he very kindly passed me Mr Griffin's number. I sent a text to say I was available and he phoned this morning to tell me the owners were happy for me to ride.

"I've had two rides in the race. Battle Group, my first, refused to race, but then Royale Knight gave me a brilliant ride to finish sixth. He was a great spin and I thought I had almost a winning chance going to the third-last, but he was probably just outstayed, although he plugged on. If I can get as good a ride as I got off him I'll be very happy."

The rider continued: "I've never ridden Maggio, but I've seen him plenty and I remember James Reveley winning on him on the Mildmay course. He's got some good form and gets in on a nice weight. I'm sure Mr Griffin and the team back in Ireland will have him spot on.

"Dad won the race, of course, before I was even a thought, and he's pretty excited for me. It gives him an excuse to come up to Aintree for a day out."

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