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Al Co tries to match Red Rum in Crabbie's Grand National

Al Co (right) ridden by Jamie Moore leads Trustan Times and Godsmejudge to win the Coral Scottish Grand National during day two of the Coral Scottish Grand
Image: Al Co could emulate Red Rum

Al Co will join a very select club if he can add the Crabbie's Grand National crown to his Scottish Grand National victory.

Red Rum's exploits are unlikely ever to be matched, of course, but Peter Bowen's 10-year-old will in part emulate the legendary 'Rummy' if he can add the world's greatest steeplechase to his Ayr laurels of 12 months ago, as Ginger McCain's hero did in 1974.

Bowen's stable star had his whole campaign last season built around a trip to Ayr, with his liking for a marathon trip and good ground.

The Welshman would love to win Chepstow's version in December, but that is usually run in the mud so Scotland was the destination and under a perfect ride from Jamie Moore, Al Co beat the previous year's winner Godsmejudge at 40-1.

Straight after that plan had come to fruition it was decided the whole of this season would be aimed around the second Saturday in April and so far Bowen has been delighted with how it has gone.

"It might be asking a bit much to win the two races you have set out to win for the last two years," said Bowen.

"What I do know, though, is that he is in very good form and his preparation could not have gone any better. Last time out he ran better than I expected him to over hurdles at Bangor, so he's coming to the boil.

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"We know he's got no problem with the fences because we took him to the Becher earlier in the season to see if he'd enjoy it.

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"People might look and see he was pulled up, but the ground was too soft for him that day and we just wanted to see how he'd handle it and he handled it fine. The only thing we haven't been able to control is the ground, if it was soft that would be all against him.

"He's had a quiet season, because ever since he won at Ayr we said we'd train him for this.

"He loves being fresh anyway, but he'll be going there fresher than most as he hasn't been slogging through the mud in the middle of winter.

"After the Becher we wanted to get him going again on some nicer ground and he got that at Doncaster over hurdles. I thought he shaped really well to finish third over a trip short of what he wants.

"At the time it just looked an ordinary handicap, nothing special, but then of course the winner (Call The Cops) followed up at Cheltenham so that gave his form a big boost.

"After that it was Bangor and I was over the moon with him that day, he shaped really well for a long way."

The big question mark over more than half the field before every Grand National is stamina, as so few races on the calendar are run over four miles, but that box is ticked for Al Co.

"The key thing in our favour is that we know he stays four miles and more, not many in the race can say that," said Bowen.

"One thing that has to happen is that he has to go wide. He doesn't like being crowded by other horses so he'll be kept wide throughout. That could be in his favour, though, as most people these days try and stick to the inner so we should be away from all the traffic and chaos."

Bowen's 17-year-old son Sean has been making great waves as a conditional jockey this season but he is set to ride for his boss, champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Al Co was due to be ridden by Jamie Moore, as he was up at Ayr, but he unfortunately suffered a broken leg ruling him out of action.

"He was Jamie's ride, after the ride he gave him at Ayr last year it would be very difficult to have taken him off, in any case Sean is riding for Paul Nicholls on Mon Parrain," said Bowen.

"I suppose it will be a case of who do I watch first, Sean or Al Co. He might only be 17 but he's a good jockey and he's not without a chance, Mon Parrain was second in a Topham as a young horse so obviously likes the place.

"I always thought Al Co would improve for the trip and he did at Ayr, in fact he travelled too well as he hit the front too soon and wandered about. The fact he did that, even after four miles, said to me that he had a bit left in the tank.

"Whoever rides him should be able to hold on to him longer at Aintree, there's usually a good few still in with a chance coming over the Melling Road, unlike years ago, so if he can get a good lead into the straight that would be ideal.

"Look, I know you need a hell of a lot of luck in the race, but he's got less questions hanging over him than most. We know he stays, he'll love it if it's good ground and he's going there in the form of his life.

"We're going there as hopeful as you can."

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