Weld confident Majestic Concorde will fly the Grand National fences
Published:Of all the so-called amateurs riding in the Grand National on Saturday, Robbie McNamara could stake a claim to being the one every trainer would love to employ.
At least that would have been the case until Sam Waley-Cohen won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Long Run, but while McNamara’s stock has dwindled a little, punters should have no fears in backing Majestic Concorde with McNamara aboard.
Dermot Weld confirmed Majestic Concorde would go for the Saturday’s Grand National on Tuesday and the horse is now available at 25/1 in the Grand National betting.
Weld also confirmed McNamara will take the ride and it will be McNamara’s first attempt at taking on the Grand National fences.
But after a win in the Punchestown Festival last year aboard Hidden Universe, and having ridden a winner for Weld at Limeric on Sunday, McNamara is in strong form.
Majestic Concorde beat the highly fancied Becauseicouldn’tsee (25/1) at Leopardstown last time out, and with that race being run over three miles on heavy ground, stamina and trip shouldn’t be a problem for the eight-year-old.
That win was McNamara’s fourth aboard Majestic Concorde in seven rides, and the fact his last win was in a field of 28 is also another huge positive.
McNamara is bullish about his chances and said: “He won the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown off top weight, that was his last run. He’s a horse that runs best fresh.”
“I schooled him last week over two Grand National fences at the Curragh and he jumped super.
“He’s a great attitude and he stays well. He has plenty of class for it and fingers crossed with a bit of luck you never know what could happen.”
McNamara is one of five amateurs likely to ride on Saturday, and Sam Waley-Cohen is the most fancied to land the big prize aboard Oscar Time at 12/1.
A £20 stake on Majestic Concorde winning the Grand National would return £520. New customers can sign up here to get £60 in free bets.
