'We've been aiming him at it all season' - Tony Martin on his National contender

Tony Martin celebrated a special birthday earlier this month and the trainer hopes Anibale Fly can provide him with the present he has always wanted next month – a first Randox Grand National success.

Not since Amberleigh House in 2004 has a 12-year-old won the world's most famous jumps race and Anibale Fly will be having his fourth crack at it.

Unlike his first two tries, however, he will not head to Aintree after a gruelling Gold Cup run and his trainer thinks that will stand him in good stead.

2022 Randox Grand National: betting and entries

Martin, who has just turned 60, said: "I know he's getting on a bit, and you wish you could roll back the years, but we're happy enough with him and it's all systems go for Aintree, at the minute anyway.

"He's not the horse he was but I thought he ran a lovely race over hurdles at Fairyhouse recently and we've been aiming him at the race all season.

"He was fourth one year and fifth in it another year, but he went there both times having run in the Gold Cup and it just came too quick for him.

"He used to have hard races in the Gold Cup because he would be flat out for the last mile and it used to take it out of him. He ideally needed an extra fortnight to get over it.

"Last year he went there fresher but he completely missed the first fence and it was goodnight after that. It was game over, so he was never in the race. He seems to be in very good form and I couldn't be any happier with him."

Tony Martin: trainer of Anibale FlyCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Anibale Fly was runner-up to Al Boum Photo in the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup, having been third to Native River the year before, and he is a 33-1 shot with most firms to hand Martin a first Grand National success on Saturday week.

Martin has staged something of a resurgence this season with ten jumps winners – the first time he has reached double figures since the 2016-2017 campaign – and is showing an impressive €17.25 level-stake profit for every €1 staked.

Good Time Johnny has been responsible for three of those wins and his larger-than-life owner Aidan 'Red' Shiels also turned 60 this month, as did Martin's brother-in-law Mattie Lynch. A party in the Greville Arms in Mullingar was staged to celebrate the occasion.

"We had some craic in the Greville Arms," Martin said. "The 'Red' brought 16 lads over with him from America for the party and sure we had mighty craic altogether.

"He's been some owner for me over the years; it goes back over 20 years at this stage. Oh My Lord was the first horse he had with me and we've had some great days together. Benefficient and Northern Alliance are two that stand out and hopefully there are a few more to come."

Grand National (Aintree, Saturday, April 9)

Betfair: 8 Any Second Now, Delta Work, 10 Escaria Ten, 12 Enjoy D'Allen, 14 Snow Leopardess, 16 Fiddlerontheroof, Longhouse Poet, Minella Times, Run Wild Fred, 20 Farclas, Burrows Saint, 25 Mount Ida, Fortescue, Noble Yeats, 33 bar

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