Mangan Delighted By Pass Progress

Jimmy Mangan today reported Monty´s Pass 'every bit as good as he was last year' ahead of the gelding´s third Grand National bid next month. Monty´s Pass won the race in 2003 and finished fourth last year and is a general 33-1 chance for the John Smith´s-sponsored showpiece on April 9.

The 12-year-old has had four starts this season and on his most recent outing he was 10th of 16 in a hurdle race at Limerick.

'I was pleased with him that day,' the County Cork-based trainer said.

'There was talk after he ran last time that we might give him another run but there was nothing suitable and there was no need really.

'He´s in great shape and I´ll just keep him ticking over now before the National.

'David Casey rode him last time and David hopped off and he said `my god he gave me a tremendous feel´.

'I thought he might have been placed but he still ran a great race. He was handy but when they quickened he just couldn´t go with them but he was staying on marvellous at the end.

'He hasn´t really had his good ground this time and he´ll be every bit as good as he was last year. If he was placed I´d be more than pleased.

'He loves Liverpool. He´s been over the course three times, second in the Topham, won the National and fourth in the National.

'You couldn´t ask for more.'

Barry Geraghty has ridden Monty´s Pass in his runs round Aintree and Mangan expects the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey to be on board again.

'I haven´t spoken to Barry since Cheltenham but he knows that the mount is his and I presume he would tell me if he wasn´t taking it - he loves riding him round there,' Mangan said.

Monty´s Pass has 11st 3lb in the Grand National and Mangan was pleased to see top weight Grey Abbey stand his ground at the latest forfeit stage.

He added: 'I´m delighted to see Grey Abbey staying in, it keeps the weights down.

'Monty´s has 11st 3lb and if he got about 4lb more it would ruin any chance he´d have.'

? PA Sport