Don’t Push It attempts to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals when he faces a maximum field at Aintree on Saturday.
Plenty have put up a bold fight in a bid to win the famous race again since Red Rum in 1973-74, but all have failed.
The victory of Jonjo O’Neill’s Don’t Push It provided perennial champion jockey Tony McCoy with his first win in the race at his 15th attempt, landing a huge public gamble.
There are plenty of punters who think he will follow up and totesport have him as third-favourite at 12-1.
“The Midnight Club currently heads the National market at the final declaration stage, but there is a real head of steam building behind Don’t Push It and the McCoy factor may well ensure he goes off favourite,” totesport spokesman George Primarolo said.
O’Neill issued an upbeat bulletin ahead of his bid for history by saying: “He’s in great form, he’s had a good prep and he’s very well in himself.”
“He seems in good shape and I thought he ran a nice race in the Pertemps at Cheltenham – his form has been progressing,” McCoy said.
Silver By Nature has been talked of in terms of a Grand National horse for a couple of years now and connections have been persuaded to take a chance this year.
His trainer Lucinda Russell is in great form at present and is happy to run the grey after he booked his ticket with a fine win at Haydock.
“His owner (Geoff Brown) is chairman of St Johnstone Football Club. He is the longest-standing chairman in Scotland,” Russell said.
“We made our minds up to come here after Haydock. He was never worried about having a runner in the National, he just wanted one to be competitive.
“He was there the day the horse was foaled and he adores him.”
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