Fingal Bay to return in Grand National at Aintree
Trainer Philip Hobbs has confirmed Fingal Bay’s entry to the John Smith's Grand National, set to be held at Aintree in April this year. The six-year-old will be back in action after missing Cheltenham Festival due to a hamstring injury.
His omission from the event was a huge setback for Hobbs and the connections. However, they are expecting their dashing runner to reduce their disappointment by making a fine return at Aintree.
"He's back cantering again and looks terrific. The three mile novice hurdle at Aintree [John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle on April 13] is worth more than any of the Cheltenham races, and providing the ground is alright he will go there, although Punchestown
is a possibility," Hobbs said while speaking on At The Races on Tuesday.
Fingal Bay, who was scheduled to take part in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the festival, has been unbeaten since his debut.
King´s Theatre’s son out of Lady Marguerrite started off his career in February last year, sealing an easy 22-length triumph in the Molson Coors Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race at Exeter.
He went on to seal three more wins before displaying a fantastic performance at Newbury at the end of last year. Under Richard Johnson, the maverick gelding exhibited a splendid show to beat his rivals in the Grade 1 Bathwick Tyres Challow Novices' Hurdle.
With such a healthy track record, Fingal Bay will be one of the toughest runners at Aintree. Hobbs confirmed his participation in the mega meeting after he cantered well following an injury.
Hobbs’ another powerful trainee and Fingal Bay’s half brother, Captain Chris, is going to miss Aintree marathon. The six-year-old, who ended up fourth in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, will resume his journey at the Punchestown festival, where he did well
last season.
On Wishfull Thinking who suffered a terrible tumble during the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Hobbs described that the nine-year-old is in good shape at the moment, as he returned unscathed from last week’s festival.
"He [Wishfull Thinking] is absolutely A1, he's better than Richard [Johnson], who had a badly bruised leg," added the experienced hander.
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