Betting
“HE LOVES THE TRACK”: Willie Mullins confirms Aintree target for stable star was the priority over Cheltenham ahead of Grade 1 Bowl
Leading trainer Willie Mullins states one of his classy sorts is set to head to Merseyside later this week
Closutton handler Willie Mullins confirmed that Kemboy is on-course to make his racecourse reappearance in the Betway Bowl at Aintree later this week having skipped the Cheltenham Festival.
The 10-year-old has never been seen to best effect at Prestbury Park, finishing only 7th and 9th in the 2020 and 2021 runnings of the Gold Cup, respectively, but won the running of the Merseyside chase three years ago.
The Grand National Festival the following year was abandoned due to the covid-19 pandemic.
But the son of Voix Du Nord will bid to reclaim his crown across the Irish Sea later this week, his trainer has stated.
“Kemboy loves the track and was very good in the Bowl a few years ago so we decided to skip Cheltenham this year and aim for Aintree instead”, Mullins told the Racing Post.
And the recent leading Cheltenham Festival chief also confirmed that last year’s fourth, Burrows Saint, is on course for a reappearance in National Hunt’s most famous race, albeit he will do well to go one better with a recent Fairyhouse rival.
“Burrows Saint is fine. You would rather have had a better run in the Bobbyjo [beaten 42 lengths into third] and it’s going to be hard to turn around the form with Any Second Now.
“The team might not be as strong as other years. You’d rather some of them had better runs prior to the National, but then it’s the National and who knows what’s going to happen?”, he added.
Annamix and Blackbow are expected to head for the Topham, while Royal Rendezvous could feature in the Grade 1 Marsh.
