Senior Chief in charge at Cheltenham
The Randox Grand National emerged as a potential long-term target for Senior Chief after he led home a one-two for Henry de Bromhead in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Making his first appearance since being pulled up as a leading contender for the Irish Grand National in the spring, Senior Chief was an 11-1 shot in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe, with his stablemate The Short Go slightly shorter in the betting at 9-1 under Jordan Gainford.
With the pacesetting pair of 9-4 favourite Broadway Boy and Does He Know faltering from the home turn, Senior Chief moved strongly to the lead early in the straight and aided by first-time cheek pieces, dug deep from the final fence to repel the challenge of his stable companion by a length and a quarter.
“I’m delighted for both horses, Senior Chief always looked like he had a big one in him and The Short Go is just coming through and he ran a cracker as well,” said de Bromhead.
“Senior Chief was disappointing in the (Irish) National, he was nearly favourite that day, but the lads were patient, we gave him a good break and I’m delighted for them.
“We were heading for the Kerry National, but he just didn’t feel like he was there so we said we’d aim for this.
“The cheek pieces were just to make him focus. He’s very genuine, but sometimes at the end of the race he’d just look around a bit.
“There’s no better place to have a winner, we get looked after so well and love coming and it’s always nice to win the odd one as well.”
Paddy Power introduced Senior Chief into their Grand National market at 50-1 and his trainer, who memorably won the Aintree spectacular with the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Minella Times in 2021, feels a trip to Merseyside in April could suit.
He added: “The English National has always been in my head for him, just the Irish National threw me a little bit. I wonder is he better left-handed than right-handed? I’m not sure, I’m probably mad.
“I haven’t spoken to the lads, the plan was to win a big handicap somewhere as we felt he was entitled to and it’s brilliant he’s done that here.
“Last year, before the Irish National, I felt he was an English National horse and he failed to see it out, but I wouldn’t write it off yet.”