Henderson Waits On Fondmort Bid

Nicky Henderson is still undecided whether the admirable Fondmort will take his chance in the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday week.

The 10-year-old landed the Grade Two Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, his first win at that level since his novice days, and there are certainly no signs of him having lost any of his ability.

Henderson is tempted to let him have another crack at the Aintree showpiece after his run in the race last year proved inconclusive, and he is unlikely to be on his own with several Seven barrows inmates also under consideration.

'The Aintree team is beginning to take shape,' Henderson told At The Races. 'In fairness we just need to decide which races they are all going to go for.

'Fondmort I need to discuss with Mick Fitzgerald and Phil Brown (owner) really as he could run in the National, a two-and-a-half-mile race or even over three, I just would like to see what everybody else is doing.

'He seemed to enjoy it last year but all our horses ran awful at the meeting so we can't really judge him on that.

'If he had dropped out of the race at the Canal Turn second time round you could say it was a lack of stamina but he got further than that and ran a race similar to what all of mine did there last year.

'Mick said for a circuit and a half he was one of the great rides of all time so we'll have to make a decision.

'Juveigneur ran very well at Cheltenham but we might just be looking at the Scottish National rather than Aintree for him. He fell at the first in the Becher so we didn't really learn anything.

'Iris Royal is a possible as is Calling Brave, Liberthine is also a possible but she might just miss the cut.'

? PA Sport