'It’s an unfashionable route, but it's mega' - Latenightpass ignites Grand National dream with stellar cross-country success

Latenightpass established himself as the 2024 Grand National’s ultimate rags-to-riches contender as the prolific former point-to-pointer continued his climb through the jump racing ranks to record victory at the sport's most famous racecourse.

The ten-year-old needed six starts to break his maiden at Sheriff Hutton in January 2019 but here, less than five years later, he humbled the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo to land the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase.

The world’s most famous steeplechase was hailed as a “blindingly obvious” ambition for the ten-year-old by trainer Dan Skelton following this  stamina-laden performance.

Skelton, who took over training duties from permit holder Tom Ellis this season to meet requirements Latenightpass could run in higher-quality races, said that Bridget Andrews, sister of winning rider Gina Andrews and wife of stable jockey Harry Skelton, looks after Latenightpass who was clearly primed to deliver his best performance.

A month on from his excellent second on his cross-country debut, he was given a cold, confident ride under Andrews before a combination of class and enthusiasm allowed him to creep closer in the marathon 3m5½f contest.

In 2021 Minella Indo won Cheltenham’s biggest prize on the same card on which Latenightpass finished fourth in the Hunters' Chase, and he travelled dangerously under Rachael Blackmore here. However, the Gold Cup winner was being driven out before the nine-time point winner had been asked for a decisive effort. Ridden patiently until the final fence, he galloped clear of the admirable Francky Du Berlais to win by four lengths.

Latenightpass and Gina Andrews in the winner's enclosure alongside beaming connections Credit: john grossick

Skelton said: “Confidence is vital in this race; they have to know what they’re doing and switch off to get the trip. That’s how you win it. He does just that – he relaxes and almost dragged Gina to the front, but she knows him so well and sat on him to the last. He scooted away then so fair play to him.

“He’s got experience, knows what he’s doing and stays well, and it appears like he belongs in a higher grade. 

"That’s the difference with these hunter chases; you don’t know if they belong here as they’ve been spending their time in the amateur ranks.”

Paddy Power make Latenightpass a 40-1 chance for success at Aintree, where the Pippa Ellis-owned son of Passing Glance has already run three times over the National fences, landing the 2022 Foxhunters' as well as finishing a close second in the same race in 2021 and fourth last season.

Skelton added: “I’d say it’s [the Grand National] blindingly obvious. Silver Birch ran in this race before winning the National and he deserves his chance.

“It’s a bit unfashionable but it shows there’s more than one route to it. It’s brilliant, absolute mega and long may the story run.”

Blackmore was thrilled by the effort of Minella Indo, who carried top weight and faded into a respectable fourth. He is on track for the Cross Country at the festival, for which he was trimmed to 6-1 (from 10-1) with Coral.

His rider said: “He ran super, really good, and with the schooling he’d done at home we were hoping he’d put in a jumping performance like that. He took to those fences really well.

“He had a lot of weight to carry there. Henry [de Bromhead] and the Maloneys will decide what’s next, but I very much enjoyed riding him.”

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