Oliver Sherwood believes Eric's Charm would near favourite for the Grand National - if it was run on a right handed track!
Most horses do not mind if they race left-handed or right-handed, but Eric’s Charm seems to and his handler said today: “Hand on my heart, if you could guarantee that it would be good to soft at Sandown he would have gone to the Bet365 Gold Cup.”
In eight races at Sandown, Eric’s Charm has won twice and been second four times. “If the John Smith’s Grand National was run at Sandown he’d be near favourite,” added the trainer.
Eric’s Charm has enjoyed far more success on right-hand courses like Sandown, but his victory on March 6 at the Blue Square Supporting Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase on the anti-clockwise track at Newbury encouraged connections.
“The Newbury win knocked a few doubters, but as A P [McCoy] said afterwards, Newbury is basically two long straights with very easy turns. Aintree is not that much different, although the Canal Turn and Becher’s are two left-handed jumps which are going to test him. He’s run at Aintree once, in the Topham [2008] when he fell at the sixth. Dominic Elsworth, who rode him that day, thought he jumped a bit steeply.
“Though he does tend to be at the head of affairs in his races, he doesn’t have to be a front runner. That would be the last thing we would be worried about. You don’t go expecting to win a National - you need luck in running - but after about two miles, if he’s still thereabouts we might start getting excited. If he’s out there on the second circuit. He will stay and is in the best form of his life.
“Wayne Hutchinson schooled him yesterday and he was delighted with him. He said he was clever and neat. To be honest, we’re just living the dream being in the John Smith’s Grand National,” added Sherwood.
Sherwood’s last John Smith’s Grand National runner was Him Of Praise, who was joint second favourite in 1998. Him Of Praise refused four out in the race won by Earth Summit.
