Jacob to partner Pineau in Grand National Daryl Jacob will partner Pineau De Re when the horse goes in search of back-to-back victories in the Crabbie's Grand National on Saturday week. Leighton Aspell steered Dr Richard Newland's 12-year-old to Aintree glory last year, but is unavailable after trainer Oliver Sherwood confirmed Many Clouds an intended runner in the world's most famous steeplechase. Jacob, who won one of the most thrilling Grand Nationals of all time aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges three years ago, rode Pineau De Re when he finished down the field over hurdles at Cheltenham earlier this season. Owner John Provan said: "We spoke to Leighton on Saturday and he's going to ride Many Clouds, so we've booked Daryl Jacob to ride our horse. "Daryl is a top-class jockey and was Richard's main rider until he got the big job with Paul Nicholls a while back. We then used Sam Twiston-Davies quite a lot, until Paul Nicholls also spotted him and Sam replaced Daryl. "We've always thought a lot of Daryl and he's a Grand National-winning jockey. He has plenty of experience riding in the race, which counts for a lot. "Daryl will come and school the horse this week and we'll see if he can go and win back-to-back Grand Nationals, which would be quite an achievement." Jacob is unsurprisingly delighted about getting the leg-up on the defending champion. He said: "It's very exciting to be riding last year's winner. At the start of the season I was riding quite a few for Richard and I rode this horse over hurdles at Cheltenham. "It's a big advantage to be riding a horse who has been around Aintree before, and it's an even bigger advantage to be riding a horse who's won there before. "I'm going to have a sit on him on Wednesday morning, which will be great, and I'm really looking forward to riding him. "I think it's a really open Grand National this year and he must go there with as good a chance as any of them. I'll be going there full of confidence."
