Livelovelaugh

Livelovelaugh ran better in the Grand National than his finishing position in 11th place suggests. Prominent from early under David Mullins, he jumped the big fences really well. He travelled well down the side of the track in the front rank, and he was still going well and racing in the leading group of four as they ran to the home turn. His stamina just started to ebb from that point, however. He started to come under pressure as they started the run to the second last fence, and he was a tired horse when he jumped it. He just kept on over the final fence and up the run-in.

It was a big run by Willie Mullins' horse. There was always a chance that his stamina would be stretched beyond its limit, the longest distance over which he has ever won under Rules is two miles and five furlongs, but the manner in which he took to the track and jumped the fences was hugely encouraging. Two and a half miles is probably his optimum trip, which would make him very interesting if he were to return to Aintree next year for the Topham Chase. He is nine years old, he will be 10 next year, but he has raced just eight times over fences. Also, two of the last four Topham winners were 10, and eight of the 12 horses who filled the first three places in the last four runnings of the race were 10 or older.

Aintree, 6^th April 2019

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