Townend hoping to hit the headlines Paul Townend, so often in the shadow of Ruby Walsh, gets his big chance to make headlines of his own with the potentially plum ride on Prince De Beauchene in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree. Dual National winner Walsh broke his arm at the Cheltenham Festival, leaving stable number two Townend to take the ride on a horse that has missed the last two runnings through injuries of his own when he would have been a leading contender. "Touch wood, he jumps well at home. He's never run over the National fences before and has missed the last two when it's been his aim," said former champion Townend, who bagged a Grade One prize at the meeting on Boston Bob on Friday, in the same colours of Graham Wylie. "The trip is a bit of an unknown, but I think he will stay. He ran a nice race in the English Hennessy but faded out of it with a big weight, and was running well in the Lexus until he made a mistake. "He brings a touch of class, has a lovely racing weight and if he gets into a rhythm, you never know. He's a good horse in his own right and it's nice to have a ride in the race with a nice squeak like he has. I'm hoping to get a nice ride off him." Owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his jockey-son Sam have enjoyed great success over the Aintree fences but it could all pale into insignificance if Long Run wins the first £1million renewal. The nine-year-old is searching for his own piece of history as no horse as ever won the King George, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the biggest race of them all in Liverpool. The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old may not be the force of old, but there is no doubt he has been given a chance by the handicapper. "Myself and Sam have enjoyed plenty of luck over the fences in the past, but I still get a tingle ahead of the National as it's a great race," said Waley-Cohen snr. "Clearly he has deteriorated since his days of beating Kauto Star and Denman in the Gold Cup, but he has been handicapped accordingly. All you can wish for is a clear run and then take it from there." Henderson is four-handed as he seeks to win the great race for the first time, with Hennessy winner Triolo D'Alene, Hunt Ball and Shakalakaboomboom completing his party. He said: "It's a good little squad to come in with. It's a race that has eluded us. We've had a few close shaves, but not for a bit. We've not quite had the right kit for it, but this year there are four boys that fit the bill and we're entitled to be here." Tony McCoy chose Double Seven, trained by Martin Brassil, ahead of Ted Walsh's Colbert Station as his mount for his boss J P McManus. Brassil, who won the National with Numbersixvalverde in 2006, said: "Everything seems to have gone well with him and we're happy to be here. I just hope they don't get too much rain. The ground is very important to him and if it went heavy there'd be no point in even running him. Hopefully it's no worse than good to soft."
