O’Neill savouring Cloth Cap’s National opportunity

‘He’ll never have the same weight again, that is for sure’

Jonjo O’Neill concedes Cloth Cap will never have a better opportunity to win the Randox Grand National after the handicapper hit him with a 14lb rise for his easy Kelso win.

The nine-year-old, who had put up a similarly impressive display to win the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November, finds himself 26lb higher than for that success just two runs ago.

However, as the National weights have already been announced, Cloth Cap can run off his old mark of 148 rather than his new perch of 162 – which would put him on the verge of Gold Cup class.

Not surprisingly Cloth Cap is the clear 6-1 favourite for Aintree.

“He’s come out of the race grand, which is nice,” said O’Neill.

“He’s looked a better horse all year at home to be fair – it hasn’t just been the ground.

“You can argue all you like with the handicapper and say the older horses (Definitly Red and Lake View Lad) didn’t perform, Kim’s (Bailey) horse (Two For Gold) didn’t perform – but he still won by seven lengths, so you’re only kidding yourself.

“This year you’d have to love the enthusiasm he has shown. He jumps, he stays and if he keeps doing that it would be lovely.”

O’Neill has already won the National when providing Sir Anthony McCoy with a famous victory on Don’t Push It in 2010 – while Cloth Cap’s owner Trevor Hemmings has been lucky enough to see his colours carried to victory three times by Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).

“We’ve got to get him there first – everything needs to go 100 per cent right before we can start getting excited,” said O’Neill.

“He’ll never have the same weight again, that is for sure, so this is his opportunity.

“It’s nice to be in this position if we can get him there safe and sound.”

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