Royal Mail to run at Aintree

Press, 29 March 1979, Page 25

Royal Mail to run at Aintree

NZPA London New Zealand steeplechaser. Royal Mail, runner-up in the rich Cheltenham Gold Cup two weeks ago. will have his next outing at the [Grand National meeting at (Aintree on Saturday. I After the Cheltenham run. Royal Mail’s best in Britain, his trainer. Stan Mellor, said [the nine-year-old Bally I Royal gelding would be rested before attacking a series' I of steeplechases in France in May and June. But the change in plans’ was announced from Mellor’s Berkshire stables yesterday and the New Zealand horse will be saddled for the Lancer chase at the Liverpool course. The race is confined to riders with a career tally of less than 25 winners and Mellor has booked the ex-

iperienced amateur, David - Evatt, who just qualifies. i Royal Mail had earlier I been nominated for the I Grand National itself but ' was taken out at one of th< : early withdrawal stages. Two New Zealand runner’, , Purdo and Cartwright, re- . main in the big race in I which the New Zealand (amateur jockey, Dennis • 'Gray, will ride. Gray, aged i!39, will ride Mellor's 100 to i 1 shot, Alpenstock, a 12-year-old with no recent form i'to support his chances. Gray, who will become i oi.e of the few New Zea- ■ landers to have ridden in the I National will get an early : taste of the Aintree course today when he rides anothei iof Mellor’s New Zealand horses. Abo, in the main 1 race of the day, the Tophara ■ Trophy Chase.