Dermot Weld’s talented Majestic Concorde is amongst the last horses to be confirmed a definite runner in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree having delighted his handler with an impressive schooling session under amateur jockey Robbie McNamara, the man who will take the ride in the Liverpool marathon, writes Elliot Slater.
McNamara was in the saddle when Majestic Concorde put up a tremendous weight carrying performance to land the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in late-December where he ran on bravely after the final fence to hold another Aintree fancy, racing tips favourite Becauseicouldntsee by two-and-a-half-lengths. Weld has taken his time before giving the green light to the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned eight-year-old who had initially been an intended runner in the Thyestes Chase but didn’t recover in sufficient time from his Leopardstown exertions.
Following his latest training session Majestic Concorde looked in great shape and Weld had no hesitation in allowing him to take his chance in ‘the world’s greatest steeplechase’ to show him to horse racing Ireland. The tremendously versatile Definite Article gelding will round off a varied 12 months with his bid for the four-and-a-half-mile contest having last May gone within a length of winning the prestigious Chester Cup on the Flat.
After a two month break the Irish gelding ran another fine race to be a close third to Finger On The Pulse in the Galway Plate at the end of July, and then switched back to the level for his next outing when finishing in midfield in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. Following the news that he will be allowed to take his chance at Aintree the 40/1 ante-post odds available about Majestic Concorde soon dried up with some firms now going as short as 25/1, whilst others still offer 33/1 in places.
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