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Gordon Elliott Sport News
Clan Des Obeaux, Kemboy declare for Aintree meet
Previous winners Clan Des Obeaux and Kemboy are among nine runners declared for the Betway Bowl at Aintree on Thursday. Kemboy was a brilliant winner of the Grade One contest in 2019 for Willie Mullins, beating the Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux into second. The application of cheekpieces appeared to have the desired effect for Clan Des Obeaux in last year's renewal as he struck gold by a whopping 26 lengths, before going on to win the Punchestown Gold Cup. The 10-year-old has been beaten twice since and is interestingly fitted with blinkers for the first time for the defence his crown on Merseyside. Kemboy has not managed to get his head in front since claiming a fourth Grade One success in last year's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, most recently finishing fifth when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Dublin Racing Festival feature in February. The one to beat on recent form is Dan Skelton's Protektorat, who was best of the British when third behind Henry de Bromhead's pair of A Plus Tard and Minella Indo in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Conflated, trained by Gordon Elliott, was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup and looked set to be placed in the Ryanair at Cheltenham before falling two from home. Colin Tizzard's Eldorado Allen finished third in the Ryanair and is another leading contender, as is Royale Pagaille after finishing fifth in the Gold Cup for Venetia Williams. Nigel Twiston-Davies will be praying for rain to give Bristol De Mai the best possible chance of claiming victory, while Ann Hamilton steps Nuts Well up in class after a Listed triumph at Kelso.
Minella Times confirmed as Grand National top weight with Poker Party confirmed in field
Last year's winner Minella Times has been left at the top of the weights in Saturday's Randox Grand National following the defection of his stablemate Chris's Dream.
Elliott putting together strong hand for Irish National
Gordon Elliott feels Death Duty could be his dark horse in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
McLoughlin hopes Freewheelin Dylan gets another Irish Grand National day in sun
Dermot McLoughlin is praying the sun keeps shining to give Freewheelin Dylan every chance of being the first back-to-back winner of the Irish Grand National since Brown Lad in 1975 and 1976.
Latest Grand National odds: Rachael Blackmore backed to win the race for a second time aboard Minella Times
Rachael Blackmore was the toast of Aintree in 2021 and punters are placing their faith in the Gold Cup-winning jockey taking Liverpool by storm once again this year.
Speedy Vauban justifies favouritism in Triumph Hurdle
There was a clean sweep for the Irish in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, with Vauban powering to victory at Cheltenham and leading home four of his compatriots in the Grade One that turned into a speed test.
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Minella Indo, A Plus Tard & Al Boum Photo set for rematch
Last year's first three will face each other again in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.