Waley-Cohen upbeat about Sam's chance of National glory

The Young Master has come out of the Cheltenham Festival so well that his co-owner Robert Waley-Cohen is dreaming of more success with his son Sam in the saddle at Aintree in the Randox Health Grand National on Saturday week.

Sam Waley-Cohen has an enviable record over the spruce-topped fences at Aintree with six successes, although the big one has escaped him on his father’s Oscar Time, who was second to Ballabriggs in 2011 and fourth two years later.

The owner, who together with Sir Martin and Steve Broughton bought a 50 per cent share from owner Mike Burbidge, said: "The Young Master seems to have come out of his race at Cheltenham very well and it's all systems go for Aintree.

"We would have preferred it if he had finished third at Cheltenham, as he did last season, but his run was fine.

"He seems to be a spring horse and runs well at this time of year, so hopefully that will continue at Aintree.”

As to the rider’s great record at Aintree, his father added: "You hardly dare say that Sam has a great record over the fences as one day it is going to catch up with you with a fall! He has had a couple of falls over the fences and some great wins too.”

The Young Master, winner of the season-ending bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year and generally 20-1 for the Grand National, fell at the second-last with Waley-Cohen in the Becher Chase in December.

Waley-Cohen is not one of those complaining about BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith tinkering with the race weights.

The owner added: "The horse's weight (10st 12lb) is exactly where I expected it to be - I have no arguments with his rating.

“In a race like the Grand National, with 40 runners, you only need some minor interference for a pound or two to make no difference at all."

The last Randox Health Grand National winner to have run in the Ultima Handicap Chase before winning at Aintree was Bindaree, who was seventh at Cheltenham before his famous success in 2002.

Randox Health Grand National entries

Sam Waley-Cohen's wins over the Grand National fences

2005 Fox Hunters: Katarino
2006 Fox Hunters: Katarino
2006 Topham: Liberthine
2014 FoxHunters: Warne
2014 Becher Chase: Oscar Time
2015 Topham: Rajdhani Express