Opportunity knocks at Aintree for Britain's spirited Cheltenham performers

The Randox Health Grand National festival at Aintree next week can’t come quick enough for British trainers. At the Cheltenham Festival last month 17 of the 28 winners were trained in Ireland, 15 supplied by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins, and this was despite British horses outnumbering the Irish by a ratio of roughly two to one.

There are more higher-class jumps horses in Ireland than Britain right now. However, at Aintree last season all 21 winners were trained in Britain, with the Irish raiding party representing just a 12 per cent share of the runners.

Irish numbers may be a bit higher at Aintree this time. Gigginstown are launching a full-scale assault on the Grand National, having boycotted the race last year due to Michael and Eddie O’Leary feeling their runners had been given too much weight by the handicapper. But last season Elliott had six runners at Aintree, Mullins just two, and with Punchestown on the horizon these heavyweights may again send only select squads to Aintree.