Offshore Account

The other horse to take out of the William Hill Trophy for me, as well as Ogee and Bensalem, was Offshore Account. The Charlie Swan-trained gelding travelled and jumped really well throughout, and was the other horse on the bridle going to the second last. He joined Chief Dan George around the home turn, but he just couldn’t quicken with that pair. He got the last fence a little wrong, but he kept on well all the way up the hill to finish fourth, clear of The Tother One in fifth.

The son of Oscar is now really interesting for the Aintree Grand National, if he gets into the race. He ran a cracker in the race last year, he jumped the big fences superbly well, and actually led the field from Becher’s Brook second time to the second last fence before he faded. He raced a bit freely in the lead that day and, if he can be persuaded to race with just a little less enthusiasm, which is entirely possible now that he is 10, he could run a big race at Aintree. One of his main problems at this stage, however, is that he may be too well handicapped on a mark of 135 – 12lb lower than last year’s mark – to get a run in the race, but current odds of 66/1 would be massive if he did get a run.

16th March 2010

© The Sunday Times, 28th March 2010