Robbie chasing National berth
12 Feb 2010 - 10:13:52
Nick Gifford is hoping Wee Robbie can catch the handicapper's eye with a prominent display in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
The Findon trainer accepts his runner should have no chance against Denman, but a bold show might persuade the assessor to raise his rating, giving him a chance of making the cut for the John Smith's Grand National.
"He'll probably run in the Aon. Things haven't gone right for him yet since he came back, but the owner is very keen to try to get him in the National," said Gifford.
"He's only on 120 and that is nowhere near getting him in the National. He's got to go up an awful lot in the weights and I'm just hoping if he runs a big race it will help.
"We can't expect him to beat Denman in a million years, but if he can be there or thereabouts on the premises jumping the last, the handicapper might shove him back up otherwise he'd have to win a handicap by 20 lengths.
"This is really the last throw of the dice to try to get him in with a squeak of getting into the National, but he needs to go up at least a stone.
"There won't be many runners which will suit and it's fingers crossed."
