Clan Rests With National In Mind Jonjo O´Neill revealed on Sunday that Clan Royal will not run again this season and will be trained specifically for next year´s John Smith´s Grand National. The 10-year-old did not enjoy the best of fortune when second to Amberleigh House in last year´s Aintree spectacular, and it was even worse for the luckless gelding on Saturday. One of six runners in the great race for owner J P McManus, Clan Royal appeared very fresh on his first outing for 115 days and pulled his way to the front at the Chair (15th). He was tanking along in a clear lead when he was hampered and carried out by a loose horse on the run to Becher´s on the second circuit (22nd), dumping Tony McCoy on the ground. Clan Royal had been installed the 6-1 favourite with the sponsors for the Betfred Gold Cup on Saturday week but the Jackdaws Castle trainer said: 'He´s finished for the season and I hope we can try for next year´s National, although I doubt he´ll go back there for any other race over the big fences. 'He was in grand form this morning, bucking and kicking in the field, and next season I think I´ll keep him to hurdles (before the National) as I intended doing this winter.' ? PA Sport
