Derek O’Connor, the most successful rider in point-to-pointing history, looks set to have his first ride in the Randox Grand National on Saturday April 10 onboard Nicky Henderson’s Ok Corral.
The pair have already enjoyed success together, with the Grade 1 winning rider having partnered the JP McManus-owned gelding in two of his three successes over fences, both of which have come in Listed company at Warwick and Doncaster.
“The plan is for Derek O’Connor, who has won on him and knows him very well, to ride him,” said the Seven Barrows trainer.
“As long as all goes well tomorrow I will ring Derek and give him the green light as I don’t think the poor guy has had a meal for three weeks, so it is fair to let him know what he is planning on.
“He was all teamed up for last year’s Grand National and it hasn’t been an easy preparation this season. To be fair he was only just ready for Cheltenham but he is in good form at the moment.
“He won a good Grade 2 novice chase in preparation for the National Hunt Chase the previous year. Last year was all about aiming him at the Grand National and Derek rode him again at Doncaster and he won on him there.
“We were really looking forward to the Grand National last year and I thought he was one of our more realistic chances in recent years.”
The Seven Barrows trainer has saddled more than 40 runners in the world’s most famous steeplechase, but the closest he has come to winning was with Zongalero and The Tsarevich, who filled the runner’s up spots in 1979 and 1987 respectively.
Henderson's chances of finally laying his Grand National ghost to bed at Aintree on Saturday week now rest with OK Corral.
The 11 year old failed to feature in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month, but Henderson is optimistic of a better display from the JP McManus-owned gelding on Merseyside, following a schooling session over replica National fences in Lambourn on Thursday.
Marcus Armytage is the last amateur rider to have won the National having partnered Mr Frisk to win the 1990 renewal, whilst more recently Jamie Codd has fared best finishing second to One For Arthur in 2017 aboard the JP McManus-owned Cause Of Causes.
