Brian Ellison issued a positive bulletin on Randox Health Grand National hope Definitly Red who has been backed into around the general 9/1 favouritism for the extended four and a quarter-mile contest at Aintree on Saturday.
An impressive 14-length winner of the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on his last start in March, the progressive eight-year-old supposedly schooled well over national-style fences at Ellison’s Norton base in North Yorkshire last week and now heads favouritism for the prestigious Grade Three contest.
A winner at Wetherby and Carlisle as well this season, the son of Definite Article was particularly impressive at Doncaster last time, routing a field of Grand National hopefuls with a stylish performance which mixed solid jumping with an electric turn of foot in the home straight at Town Moor.
Trainer Brian Ellison is confident of a big run form the chestnut gelding who has simply improved with every race. In an open looking Grand National, he has received solid support this week. Ellison said:
Basically, he’s going there in great form, and he’s schooled well. Last year I would have agreed that he might not stay the trip. I doubted it last year, but this year he’s stronger and better. When he won the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, he went on four out and he wasn’t stopping.
The ground will help him, good ground will help him. He’s been awesome over the National-style fences. If ever you’ve seen a horse over a fence, he was good. If he gets the luck, he’s got a great chance.
