Marauder will rest until February

Martell Grand National winner Red Marauder will not run again until next February at the earliest and may not be seen out at all in 2001/2, it emerged today.

He is being given plenty of time to recover from his exertions of last season, when he was one of only two horses to put in a clear round in an Aintree showpiece run in controversially testing conditions.

And the 12-year-old, who has had injury problems in the past, could be taken out of training if he is not thought to be coping.

Owner/trainer Norman Mason`s assistant Richard Guest, who rode Red Marauder to his National victory, said: 'He has only just come back in and started walking and we will see how things go.

'But he has been hard to train and we will see how he bears up to the rigours of training.

'At the moment he looks a billion dollars and there is no indication he wouldn`t race again but we will take it day-by-day.

'If he copes as we gradually step things up every month we will keep going but if he doesn`t we will have a review.'

If he does return to action Red marauder could head back to Aintree.

'There is no plan where we`ll go but I suppose we`ll aim him at the National,' Guest said.

'He wouldn`t run until mid-February as he had a very hard season - he ran in all the top handicaps as well as the National - and he has had a proper rest.'

Stable-companion Red Ark is set to bid for the Kerry National at Listowel a week tomorrow.

He was fourth on his reappearance at Worcester last week and Guest, who expects the stable will have around four runners at the Irish meeting, said: 'I couldn`t have been more pleased with him as that was a competitive race and it has sharpened him up.

'He was going to go for this race last year but it rained and turned the ground very heavy which he doesn`t want.

'Apparently it is very sharp track but that will help him get the three miles. He has got 10st 6lb if Dorans Pride runs, and there are only eight handicapped.'