Dan Skelton - Le Milos: "He is in really good form. I took him for an away day recently, and he was very good. He’s versatile in regards to the ground and I think he’ll stay the trip, so he’s got a good profile for the race. He’s a Coral Gold Cup winner and I can assure you that I was probably as fit as he was at Kelso!
“I was a bit embarrassed about it to be honest, as I knew he’d need the run, but then when you get caught that late, you do kick yourself a little bit. He was obviously a gallop short of winning that day but I know how much he’d done and how much he’s done since, so I know that will be well left behind.”
Gavin Cromwell - Vanillier: “He has a lovely weight. The ground looks like it is going to be ideal and he’s settled in well since he’s come over. We’re looking forward to it. His run last time behind Kemboy in the Bobbyjo was a great run, especially since were were ‘wrong’ at the weights, and that was a good prep.
“He has come out of that well and hopefully come forward a bit since then. Like every National, you need everything to go your way and you need luck on your side, but if he gets that, hopefully he’ll be in the mix. I think he’ll take to the fences. We schooled him over similar (National) fences at the Curragh and he seemed to like them, so fingers crossed he’ll go well.”
Nicky Henderson - Mister Coffey: “His stats are great – he’s a maiden over fences but he placed in a National Hunt Chase. But you need to worry about my stats!” Henderson said. It would be nice (to win it) and we will give it a go. He ran a great race at Cheltenham, that was a perfect Aintree trial. He took to the fences in the Topham, it just wasn’t far enough, this time it’s another whole circuit.”
Lucinda Russell - Corach Rambler: “It was funny really because going in I didn’t expect to win at Cheltenham at all, I certainly didn’t expect him to win as he did. We knew that he had improved this season and before the race we knew that he had improved, so it was exciting to see him be able to go on and win like that. But the slightly scary thing is, I think he has improved again.
“Scu (Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner) rode him just afterwards and he said that he had come out of that race so well. So if he can do (improve again), Aintree is the race for him. Technically, if you look at it, he is extremely well in on the handicap,” Russell added.
“He’s gone up in the weights since Cheltenham and I think he has improved as well. From that point of view, technically, I think has got a fantastic chance. He has to take to the fences, he has to take to the whole Aintree experience, but again I am pretty confident that he will do that.”
Sam Thomas - Our Power: “We took him to Lambourn as they’ve got two ready-made fences and it was a nice away day for them. He jumped brilliantly, had a good day out and a good experience all round. It’s very much an unknown, they go a terrible speed down to the first few and you’re in the lap of the gods really. You need to have a lot of luck, meet the first on a nice stride and get your feet on the ground.
“Sam (Twiston-Davies, jockey) is super excited, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s been pretty vocal about it for quite some time. He’s got a progressive profile I’d say. We’re going into the race with a nice, fresh horse but there are so many unknowns.”
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