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Jagwar to be ridden by Mark Walsh in Grand National

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: R P McLernon riding Johnnywho celebrates winning the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase from Jagwar ridden by Mark Walsh at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 10, 2026 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Image
Jagwar (sheepskin noseband) finished second to fellow Grand National entry Johnnywho at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month

Mark Walsh is set to partner Jagwar in the Randox Grand National.

The 40-year-old faced a difficult choice given the quality and quantity among owner JP McManus' ranks, but has opted for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained gelding.

Walsh rode the seven-year-old to finish second to Johnnywho, also owned by McManus, in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival. Jagwar’s stablemate Iroko, fourth last year, will again be ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr.

"Jagwar has been very good since Cheltenham, he’ very fresh and has come out of the race very well," said Guerriero.

"I thought initially he might have had a hard race, but he certainly hasn’t been tired, anyway.

"Cheltenham told us that he stayed that trip (three miles one furlong) very well and there’s no reason he shouldn’t stay further the way he came up the hill. He wasted a hell of lot of energy through the race with his jumping and being wide.

"He seems to struggle at Cheltenham with getting into a rhythm and I do think at Aintree with its long straights will help that a lot, he can use his big stride.

"The plan is for Mark Walsh to ride him, that was the whole point of riding him at Cheltenham, to get to know him before the National. Hopefully he’ll stay on and Jonjo will stay on Iroko."

Iroko was reported to have scoped dirty after the Ultima but remains on course.

"He just had a bit of mucus in his scope after the race, we scoped him before he ran but he’s picked something up in the days before the race," added Guerriero.

"It was nothing bad, but it was obviously enough to affect his performance. He’s never not put a race in, that was the first time, but then he scoped dirty."

Final Orders could seek to emulate the great Tiger Roll in the pursuit of a Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and National double.

Gavin Cromwell's 10-year-old son of Camelot skipped around the unique course at the Cheltenham Festival, prevailing by two and a quarter lengths under Conor Stone-Walsh.

In the manner of horses such as Balthazar King, Cause Of Causes and Delta Work he may now line up for the famous marathon event at Aintree, with Tiger Roll the only horse to pull off the double despite valiant efforts from the aforementioned.

"He’s very well, he’s come out of Cheltenham great and he’s most likely now to head to Aintree," said Cromwell, whose charge is guaranteed a run following the latest acceptance stage and is 10lb well-in on British Horseracing Authority figures after his Festival effort.

"He jumped fantastically, that was his biggest asset on the day, and he got a fine ride from Conor Stone-Walsh.

"He’d definitely appreciate the ground if it was on the quicker side, we knew those conditions at Cheltenham would play to his strengths."

Cromwell had two further runners in the cross-country feature, with Vanillier finishing third and Stumptown coming home fourth.

He said of their efforts: "They both ran very well, but the ground was on the quicker side for both of them and that left them flat out all the way."

A total of 14 horses were taken out of the National at the latest confirmation stage, with Grey Dawning, Handstands, Gentlemansgame, Western Fold, Better Days Ahead, Croke Park, Intense Raffles, Myretown, O’Moore Park, Leave Of Absence, Resplendent Grey, Stolen Silver, Search For Glory and Pic Roc no longer in contention.

Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is now guaranteed a run, taking the last of the 34 positions currently.

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