The 2022 Grand National is now just a few months away and already punters are gearing themselves up for three days of top-quality action at the famous Aintree course, therefore now is a great time to register with any of our featured bookmakers and take advantage of the numerous Grand National 2022 free bet offers and enhanced places on the big race.
Blaklion gives connections dreams of a tilt at 2022 Grand National
Blaklion owner Darren Yates has high hopes of another tilt at the Aintree Grand National on April 9th after his admirable veteran won by a commanding 28 lengths at 11/4 in The Last Fling Handicap Chase just a couple of days before his thirteenth birthday at Haydock Park. Blaklion was the first British horse past the line when finishing sixth in the 2021 Aintree showpiece and despite his advancing years he has proven himself in terms of ability and stamina, sauntering to victory in the three-and-a-half mile race.
Blaklion enjoys an impressive record over the Aintree National fences, the runner coming in fourth in 2017 and triumphing in the Becher Chase the same year. Should the veteran make it into the 2022 renewal of the famous steeplechase, he will be bidding to become the first thirteen-year-old to be first over the finish line since Sergeant Murphy 99 years ago.
Yates said: “He’s just an amazing horse. We thought he was done with racing when we brought him back at Ascot last year and Dan has just done an amazing job.
“I don’t think he got the credit he deserved in the Grand National last year. He was the first British-trained horse home after something fell in front of him at the first and nobody mentioned him – so I’m just praying he gets in now. Surely the handicapper will put him up to 142 or 143 and I think he’ll have a good chance this year, better than last year!
“Everyone asks how we can keep running him at his age but how can you retire him? He’s just enjoying it and would hate to be stuck in a field. As soon as he tells us he’s had enough he can live in my garden!”
Winning trainer Dan Skelton was confident that this win would point him in the direction of Aintree, however it remains to be seen what he’ll be given in terms of weights.
The trainer said: “They’ll put him up for sure but I don’t know what they’ll give him for that. Do you give him 7lb as that’s what winners get or do you give him 10lb? I’m not sure.
“When the Grand National weights come out, the handicapper has to frame it the way he wants and I would hope he would put a horse like Blaklion – who was the top English horse in it last year – in the ‘hope to get in’ category.
“The horse is a credit to himself and he flies around the place. At home you’ve never seen anything like it, he’s phenomenal. To be fair to Darren, it was he who wanted to come here and it’s just brilliant. That was a hard race and we could look at coming back here in February, but it’s just remarkable how he’s still doing it.”