Honeyball: Regal Encore in great form for second tilt at the Grand National

Regal Encore, a serious contender for glory in next month’s £1 million Randox Health Grand National, faces two important workouts over the next week as he is prepared for the world’s most famous race.

Anthony Honeyball’s ten-year-old, who finished eighth behind One For Arthur at Aintree last year and is generally a 33-1 shot for the 4m2f marathon, will enjoy an awayday on Thursday prior to schooling over Lambourn’s Grand National fences under big-race partner Richie McLernon.

“Regal Encore is firmly on course for the race,” Honeyball said. “He’ll have an awayday on Thursday – just to get away from the yard and have a canter. Then he’ll go to Lambourn next week and have a school over the National fences.

Randox Health Grand National, card, form and betting

“Richie McLernon, who won a Listed race on him at Ascot last month, keeps the ride. We’re all looking forward to the big day.”

Regal Encore has always had plenty of ability, but his record contains a number of blips. During a 12-month spell from January 2016 the gelding was pulled up in six of his eight starts, but Honeyball never lost faith in him and believes he holds a major chance in the National.

“He's been a bit hit-and-miss at times, I suppose, but most of the disappointing runs can be explained,” Honeyball said. “For instance, he was pulled up in the Hennessy last season as Barry Geraghty felt he had gone wrong behind, and then the next time out at Cheltenham he was nearly brought down twice."

He continued: “He’s a talented horse and jumped the big fences brilliantly last year. I believe there's room for improvement on his performance last year as he got quite well behind in the early stages and could never really get into it until the race was over.

“I’m very hopeful he can build on that, and it’s nice to be going into it this year firmly on the front foot after his win in a £100,000 race at Ascot.

“Richie got on well with him that day, and I think Regal Encore has a very realistic chance of winning. I certainly wouldn’t swap him. We all believe in him.”

Success in the National would crown a stellar season for Honeyball, which has already been his best despite the loss of Fountains Windfall, whom he considered a potential superstar.

Shantou Flyer, who heads the weights announced on Wednesday for Aintree’s £140,000 Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase, is more likely to tackle the Grand National 24 hours later.

The eight-year-old ran a career-best on his latest start when a neck second to Coo Star Sivola under James Bowen in Cheltenham’s Ultima Handicap Chase and is 8lb well in for the National.

Shantou Flyer: heads the weights for the Topham but is more likely to run in the Grand NationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

His trainer Richard Hobson said: “As long as the ground doesn’t come up heavy he'll go for the Grand National.

“He’s in great order after Cheltenham. James is adamant he’d have won if he’d winged the last. He’s now on a career-high mark and produced the best Racing Post Rating of his career at the festival.

“Shantou Flyer is absolutely bucking and kicking. He thinks he’s a champion at the moment, which is always a good sign.”

One who remains an intended starter in the Topham is the Jimmy Moffatt-trained stalwart Highland Lodge, winner of the Becher Chase in 2015.

The 12-year-old comes alive over the big fences, and Moffatt said: “We're fairly certain now that he needs the Aintree fences to bring out the best in him, so the Topham is the plan.

Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase

"We didn't feel he got the trip in the Grand National last year and given how well he's run in the Becher we think the Topham will suit.

"He's a prominent racer and brilliant jumper over the fences, and those sort of horses tend to do well in the Topham."

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