Orange Grand National Horses

The Grand National is not a race that Henry Daly usually targets with any of his runners, in fact, the last time we saw a runner in the Grand National from him was back in 2007 when Billyvoddan pulled up. Fortescue was what is called a 'Slow Starter' to his racing career after getting beat by seventy-one lengths on his debut and he failed to win any of his three bumper starts, the closest he came was when third at Uttoxeter. He was switched to hurdles on his fourth start but failed to see out the race and pulled up, he was then beaten fifty-six, eleven and nine lengths on his next three starts over hurdles, twice sent off at 100/1 as he struggled to find a maiden win. For the 2019-20 season, the decision was made to switch him to fences and that along with previous racecourse experience seemed to work the trick as he won on his chasing debut at Southwell and although beaten on his second start, the runner who beat him (Lamanver Pippin) went on to finish third in the Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival next time out so not a bad effort. He won a couple more novice handicap chases in 2020 off marks of 117 & 121, his first victory came off 112 and then in 2021 he recorded two more successes over fences off marks of 128 & 134. When last seen he was beating Fiddlerontheroof to win a valuable chase at Ascot off a mark of 143, which was his sixth success over fences and off a mark 31lbs higher than his handicap debut which shows have much he has progressed the last couple of seasons. His third in the Peter Marsh two starts back reads well, the winner, Royale Pagaille, went on to finish fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. All six wins over fences have been over three miles and on testing ground, either soft or heavy so he has the stamina and he is 4lbs well in as he is due to go up to 147 following his Ascot success but gets to run off the same mark of 143 here.