The Grand National at Aintree is a race that every horse racing trainer in Jumps racing dreams of winning. West Sussex-based operator Gary Moore will feel he has an excellent chance of prevailing in the marathon contest for the first time this season with Nassalam.
Watch Nassalam’s Welsh Grand National victory in full… 👇 pic.twitter.com/T4sFHiW1xw
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 27, 2023
Moore’s chaser won the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on his latest start, blowing his rivals away by 34 lengths. He proved in testing conditions at the Welsh racecourse that he is one of the leading staying chasers in the UK.
Nassalam Set for Cheltenham Before Aintree
Before he lines up on Merseyside in the Grand National in April, Nassalam is set to take on the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. He is 40/1 in the betting on Cheltenham races for the Blue Riband contest at Prestbury Park.
The seven-year-old was given an official rating of 161 following his Chepstow success so he is likely to be one of the popular Cheltenham Festival tips this year. The Sussex-based trainer will be hoping for rain in the build-up to this year’s Cheltenham Festival as the majority of his horse’s best form has come on heavy ground.
🟡🟤 Galopin Des Champs – back to his best
🏇 16 runs
🥇 10 wins
🏆 Six G1 victories
🏆 Savills Chase
🏆 Cheltenham Gold Cup
🏆 Irish Gold Cup
⭐️ Superstar@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/xsWPWiIi2p— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2023
Nassalam will be taking on some of the strongest chasers from Ireland in the Festival feature, including defending champion Galopin Des Champs. Willie Mullins’ runner won the Savills Chase during the festive period, proving that he remains the horse to beat in the division.
This will be Nassalam’s fifth appearance at Cheltenham Racecourse. He ran at the Festival in 2021 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, while last March, he came home in midfield in the Ultima Handicap Chase.
This will be Nassalam’s fifth appearance at Cheltenham Racecourse. He ran at the Festival in 2021 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, while last March, he came home in midfield in the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Aintree Expected to Suit Moore’s Star
Connections of Nassalam will learn what weight allocation their horse has been handed by the handicapper in late February. He was fortunate to have just 11st 3lb on his back at Chepstow and he took full advantage in the Welsh version of the Grand National.
The last horse to complete the Welsh and English Grand National double in the same season was Earth Summit who achieved that feat in 1997-1998. Bindaree and Silver Birch have both won the two staying handicap chases but did so in different campaigns.
Nassalam will be stepping up in distance again at Aintree, as the Grand National takes place over the distance of 4m2½f, the longest race in either the UK or Ireland. He was full of running at the end of his Chepstow triumph which indicates he will appreciate the extra distance at Aintree.
Jumping is also vital in the Grand National as the fences on the course are much bigger than standard obstacles. Nassalam has yet to fall during his career and he often clears his fences with ease.
Moore has yet to have a runner in the Grand National during his career. He will be dreaming that Nassalam can give him success in the world’s most famous steeplechase at the first attempt. His chaser will be bidding to become only the second seven-year-old to win the race in the last 83 years.
The 2024 Grand National takes place on the 13th of April and it could end up being the biggest day in Moore’s career.
