Vanillier to head directly to Aintree

Cheltenham festival winner Vanillier is likely to head straight to the Aintree Grand National, for which he is generally a 25/1 chance.

Winner of the 2021 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, the eight year old finished second in the recent Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and has been allotted 10st6lbs for the Aintree showpiece.

His trainer Gavin Cromwell reports “he's great and we're happy out and it's more than likely he'll go straight to the National. There is a race at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day but I doubt he'll go there.

“Nice-ish ground suits him, I know looking at him you might say he's a big slow ground horse but nice ground suits him fine.”