Jockey for Harry Redknapp's Grand National horse booked as team monitor weather

11 April 2023 , 19:00

385     0

Harry Redknapp pictured at Cheltenham Racecourse (Image: Getty Images)

Harry Redknapp's first Grand National runner will only get the green light for Aintree if conditions are suitable.

Trainer of Back On The Lash, Martin Keighley, is keeping a close eye on the weather as Saturday's big race looms. A deluge of rain would seriously hamper the chance of the nine-year-old, who snuck into the race at Monday's confirmation stage, making the line-up.

A total of 10mm of rain hit the track on Monday – and up to the same amount is due overnight on Tuesday.

"We are hoping they won't get too much, if it went very soft it would be a waste of a run," said Keighley. "He is in really good form and if we go, has a lovely weight. Sean Bowen (usual jockey) has committed to Noble Yeats, so we have booked Adam Wedge, who has been up to school him.

"It's really exciting to have got in the race."

Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve ban

Back On The Lash enjoys jumping a range of different obstacles in Cheltenham's cross country races (Getty Images)

Keighley's last runner in the Randox-sponsored contest, Any Currency, completed the course behind 66-1 winner Auroras Encore in 2013.

He went on to make a name for himself in cross country races at Cheltenham, which have also suited Back On The Lash, 50-1 with William Hill for the weekend highlight.

The ground on the National track is being described as good to soft by clerk of the course Sulekha Varma. Aintree's three-day meeting begins on Thursday, when Constitution Hill is the star attraction in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

Melissa Jones