Aintree Could Address Ground Ahead of National Fixture

Concerns about the ground conditions at Aintree racecourse ahead of the high-profile Grand National meeting look to be addressed by clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch according to a recent report in the Racing Post.

Speaking to the benchmark racing newspaper, Tulloch declared “it’s looking that we are going to be dry for the next week and we will try and maintain what we have got… if we need to water we will.”

As it currently stands, the Mildmay course is looking at good, good to soft while the rating for the National is expected to be good to soft.

This news likely comes as music to the ears of connections of Silver By Nature who had been concerned about firmer ground. The 16/1 fancy is competing for the overall favourites position with Big Fella Thanks and What A Friend.

Silver By Nature catapulted himself to prominence for the upcoming National by winning a high-profile trial race at Haydock back in February – a victory which came on heavy ground. The Racing Post caught up with trainer Lucinda Russell who stated that Silver By Nature will be hoping for softer going but it would not be disastrous if the surface was heavier. “He’s better on soft ground, but he was competitive on good ground at Perth a couple of years ago… He is maybe a better horse on heavy ground but he acts on good to soft.”