MAGICAL OSCAR, representing the same kennel as last year’s winner Meenagh Maverick, was fastest of two heat winners of the Ladbrokes Grand National at Crayford on Saturday – as a no-race in heat two forced a draw for places in Saturday’s semi-finals.

 

An August 2020 son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Natalie, the Ricky Holloway-trained Magical Oscar was soon handy in heat three and, clear of crowding behind, went on to score by three and three-quarter lengths from Ballymac Lucifer (Jim Reynolds) and Resilient Lad (Joanne Atkins) in 23.70sec (+10).

 

Heat one went to another Holloway-trained runner in Native Style, who made an impression on his hurdles debut when coming through a battle with kennelmate Brodies Sydney before crossing the line a head in front in 24.10sec (+10), with Champion Hurdle winner Borna Rhythm (Tony Collett) qualifying in third.

 

Heat two was deemed a no-race after the hare was stopped in the interests of safety with Lenson Doolin (Ricky Holloway) in front. Following a draw for places in Saturday’s semis, Lenson Doolin, Runwild Teddy (Jim Reynolds), Bang On Sonia (Nathan Hunt) and Glengar Lucky (Julie Luckhurst) will take their chance on a card which also includes the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Gold Collar.

 

Crayford racing manager Danny Rayment was instrumental in bringing the Ladbrokes Grand National to Crayford and revealed that the 2023 running of the hurdlers’ Classic would be over 540m, not 380m as for this year’s event.

 

“There really wasn’t enough time to make this year’s competition over 540m, but that’s the intention next year,” he said. “By doing this, we’ll be giving trainers as much notice as possible what is required for their hurdlers.

 

“We will be also taking on the Champion Hurdle, while the Springbok will switch to Hove. Hopefully these moves ensure that hurdles racing has a future and that trainers will continue to school runners to compete in these events – we know how the public enjoy the sight of a good hurdles race.

 

“As for this year’s event, it was unfortunate to have one of the heats voided but we’re left with two pretty decent semi-finals. Ricky (Holloway) has a numerical advantage including the hot favourite Lenson Doolin but it’s good to see some six kennels represented and hopefully we get two cracking races on Saturday.

 

“The card promises to a superb one here on Saturday morning with the semi-finals Ladbrokes Grand National supported by three semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Gold Collar, the heats of the Ladbrokes Cesarewitch, plus the heats of the Ladbrokes.com Kent Rose Bowl – so three Cat Ones and a Cat Three.”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390969&raceId=888564

 

Trap draw for Saturday’s semi-finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Gold-Collar-Grand-National-Semi-Finals-Form.pdf