West End Rocker showing desired Grand National credentials
Published:Alan King has confirmed that the main aim for West End Rocker this season is a tilt at the John Smith’s Grand National and based on his recent form he could be a decent each-way Aintree bet at 25/1.
Two of the chief attributes needed for a winning Aintree horse is good jumping and an abundance of stamina and these characteristics were both shown by West End Rocker as he recently landed a Grade Three handicap at Warwick.
One common prerequisite of a Grand National winner is that it has previously won in handicap company in a race in excess of three miles, with the further the distance the better.
And not only was West End Rocker’s victory over 3m5f, it was also on heavy ground, with the sapping conditions only highlighting his staying credentials further.
Trainer Alan King said on his website after the success: “He was always travelling and jumped great, and I thought it was a super run.”
West End Rocker also fits in with the trend that the last six winners of the Grand National have either been aged nine or ten, while the fact he has never fallen in ten chase races could prove an added benefit.
The only potential question mark hanging over the nine-year-old is that he has no prior experience of the Aintree fences, which is often valuable when assessing form for the Grand National.
King is set to give West End Rocker one more run before Aintree, with this expected to be the National Trial at Haydock next month.
Don’t Push It is the current favourite in the ante-post Grand National betting at 14/1, but no horse has won the race two years in a row since Red Rum in 1974.
A £25 stake on West End Rocker winning the Grand National would return £625. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.
