Seen by many as one of the greatest jockeys of his generation, Irish rider Davy Russell has been snapped up by British trainer Tom George to ride Saint Are in the Randox Health Grand National, which takes place at Aintree on April 8th.
Saint Are, an 11-year-old son of Network, was second to the ill-fated Many Clouds in the 2015 edition of the four and a quarter-mile event but was pulled up in last year’s renewal on unsuitable soft ground.
An Aintree specialist, George’s charge also won a Listed contest at the track’s Grand National meeting in 2012.
The gelding has been consistent this year and despite falling in the Becher Chase at the track in December, showed no-ill effect for that fall when finishing an excellent second at Doncaster in a veterans chase last month. He gets into the National off a weight of 147.
Saint Are will be joined in the Grade Three event by stable-mate Double Shuffle who has progressed well this season. He will be ridden by stable jockey Adrian Heskin.
George said: “Double Shuffle and Saint Are are on target for the Grand National. They are both looking fantastic and are working well.
“Adrian Heskin will be riding Double Shuffle and Davy Russell has been booked to ride Saint Are.
“We are very much hoping the good weather continues for the pair of them and the rain stays away.”
