Royal Mail to try English Grand National again

Press, 7 January 1982, Page 17

Royal Mail to try English Grand National again

From NZPA staff correspondent, Kevin Hart London The New Zealand-bred steeplechaser, Royal Mail (above), which finished third in the 1981 Grand National is being set for the sport’s toughest test again this year. The Berkshire trainer, Stan Mellor, said the gruelling 6000 m event at Aintree on April 3 would be the main oojective this year for the 12-year-old Ballyroyal-Lency gelding. Royal Mail’s New Zealand bred stablemate, Royal Stuart, which finished fourth in the 1980 Grand National but fell at the twentieth

jump when well-positioned last year was also being prepared with the event in mind, he said. Mr Mellor said he expected to give both horses two to three starts prior to the Grand National although this would depend on the state of the tracks in the lead-up to the event. ‘l’ll ’ be looking to start them in late February or early March but both don’t appreciate heavy winter going and I’ll save them for the better going in the spring if it’s too wet then,” he said. Royal Mail and Royal Stuart both raced in the British autumn but were

turned out when winter conditions closed in early in December.

Royal* Mail won well over 5700 m at Chepstow but failed in the prestigious Hennessy Gold Cup Steeplechase.

“But there were excuses that day. He did not have his usual rider, Philip Blacker, and the pace of the race did not suit him. I think he looks as good as ever and am very hopeful about his chances in the Grand National this year,” Mellor said.

He said the autumn performances of Royal Stuart, a Ballyroyal—Shamayra gelding, were rather less encouraging. .

"He pierced up a virus from a mosquito when I took him over co Sweden for cue national there last June and did not come up well in the autumn. Bui I’m hoping he’ll bounce back well enough in the spring to start at Aintree,” he said. The two horses will have the task of maintaining a record of steadily improving New Zealand challenges for the Grand National on the Liverpool course. Last year was the third successive year New Zea-land-bred horses have improved their finishing position after re-entering the event for the first time since Moifaa won in 1904.