Following a heart scare in early February, One For Arthur is back in the bidding for this year’s Grand National. The winner of the 2017 renewal finished in sixth position last year and he put in an uncharacteristically lifeless performance before being pulled up in the Grand National trial at Haydock Park.
He was subsequently found to have a fibrillating heart and connections were concerned that this could scupper his chances of making an appearance at the 2020 Grand National, however the eleven-year-old has successfully passed a series of health checks and made it through the first scratching stage for the National earlier this week.
Trainer Lucinda Russell said: “It’s hugely good news that we haven’t found any problems. He had atrial fibrillation and was arrhythmic but by the next morning it had come back and all the vets had said to me that if it comes back quicker it’s less likely to happen again.
“Everything is absolutely perfect with his heart. All the valves are tight and everything is great. He’s had a resting ECG and that was perfect, there were no drop beats.
“He’s had an exercise ECG and we’re going to do another one about three weeks before Aintree and we’ll continue to keep testing him but it’s so far so good.”
One For Arthur is a general 40/1 shot for the 2020 Randox Health Grand National and he is set to race off the same mark as he did when winning the race in 2017.
