Black Grand National Horses

Mount Ida would be an intriguing candidate for the Grand National but at the time of writing there is some confusion as to where the mare will be aimed in March and April. The Gordon Elliott trained mare has won both of her starts so far this season and after the first of those wins at Clonmel in November assistant trainer Lisa O’Neill indicated that the Aintree Grand National was the target for the eight-year-old. However, after Mount Ida’s second win this season at Fairyhouse trainer Gordon Elliott suggested the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham was the target for this season. To further muddy the waters, Mount Ida has also been given an entry in the Gold Cup! The latter of those possible targets seems an optimistic entry but if she were to show up at Cheltenham and/or Aintree, Mount Ida will definitely have her supporters. Last season’s highlight was undoubtedly the mare’s amazing win in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham where she initially appeared to be struggling when badly jumping the right and being pushed along at the back of the field after only half a dozen fences. The in-running punters pushed Mount Ida out to 999/1 but there were undoubtedly some disappointed traders as the mare shrugged off her early issues and stormed through to win the big race by over six lengths. Some pundits will suggest that Mount Ida was so well handicapped that day that she was able to get away with jumping out to the right so badly but she now finds herself on a much increased handicap mark after that win. Cheltenham is a left-handed track, and it could be telling that Mount Ida has only been asked to race right-handed since that win in the Kim Muir. Trainer Gordon Elliott did say that Mount Ida was found to have a back problem after her win at Cheltenham which has now been cured. Being able to win a race at the Cheltenham Festival whilst carrying a back injury makes her performance there even more memorable. The Kim Muir has a rich tradition of winners who go on to run well in the Grand National with 2010 Kim Muir winner Ballabriggs winning at Aintree the following year, 2012 Kim Muir winner Sunnyhillboy getting beat a short-head in the National the following month, 2016 Kim Muir winner Cause of Causes finishing second in the Grand National of 2017 and 2019 Kim Muir winner Any Second Now finishing an unlucky looking third at Aintree last year. Let’s hope we do get to see Mount Ida at Aintree as she will be a fascinating contender.