Home / Horse Racing / Daryl Jacob Set To Take The Ride After Guiding What A Friend To Fourth In The Gold Cup

Odds suggest What A Friend could end Paul Nicholls wait for a Grand National winner

What A Friend's performance in this year's Gold Cup at Cheltenham has seen the Paul Nicholls trained 8-year-old emerge as one of the hot favourites in the odds for the Grand National at Aintree in April. He showed a remarkable staying ability to take fourth at the Festival and is now as short as 11/1 with Victor Chandler for Aintree on April 9th.

Remarkably, champion trainer Paul Nicholls is still searching for a first Grand National win, which is quite amazing considering the wealth of talent he has had at his disposal over the years. What A Friend, co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is one of his main hopes this year and Nicholls has stated that if the ground is fast then his 8-year-old could well excel, although softer ground could put paid to any hopes. Daryl Jacob is set to take the ride after his successful pairing with What A Friend in the Gold Cup and he will be hoping for a similar performance at Aintree.

What A Friend ran what many have called 'the race of his life' but connections will be hoping that he has a bit more to give yet, starting with the Grand National. He has built a reputation as a brilliant jumper and showed tremendous staying powers at Cheltenham. He eventually finised fourth, 11 lengths off the eventual winner Long Run, in one of the most thrilling Gold Cup renewals in recent memory. The 8-year-old was pipped by just a nose into third by the legendary Kauto Star and that performance saw plenty of punters getting on him for the Grand National. Prior to the Gold Cup, What A Friend had been as long as 40/1 in the Aintree betting with VictorChandler.com but that performance saw his odds clipped right in and he can now be found at 11/1 and second favourite.

The run at Cheltenham followed an impressive outing in the Aon Chase at Newbury in February, where he was pipped by Noland for victory. Nicholls clearly rates his 8-year-old as he has entered him in plenty of ultra-competitive races, and a fifth place in the Betfair Chase in November was very respectable when you consider he was up against the eventual winner and 2010 Gold Cup champion Imperial Commander.

The 2009 Lexus Chase winner also has form at Aintree to call upon as he won the Totesport Bowl under Ruby Walsh during the National meeting last year, as he beat Carruthers over 3 miles and 1 furlong, and the National trip could be very much to his liking.

However, a note of caution comes with this impressive performer, who is officially rated 156, as he looks a little on the young side at 8 years of age for a National win and underwent a breathing operation as recently as last year. The handicap could be the biggest hindrance to Nicholls' hopes of a first winner though as What A Friend is set to carry 11st 6lbs and no National winner has carried more than 11st 5lbs since 1977.

Latest Grand National 2011Betting

8/1 The Midnight Club
11/1 What A Friend
12/1 Oscar Time
12/1 Backstage
12/1 Big Fella Thanks
14/1 Niche Market
14/1 Ballabriggs
14/1 Don't Push It
16/1 Silver By Nature
16/1 Junior
16/1 Quinz
20/1 Arbor Supreme
20/1 State Of Play
25/1 BAR

Odds supplied by VictorChandler.com, who provide a comprehensive betting service for the 2011 Grand National at Aintree on April 9th.

Posted: Wednesday, 30th March 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: grand national, what a friend, paul nicholls, daryl jacob, victor chandler,

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