OWNER JP McManus says Shutthefrontdoor has been "laid out" for next weekend's Crabbie's Grand National all year. Shutthefrontdoor (above) won the Irish National for McManus and Jonjo O'Neill last season, has only run once since, and has the honour of being AP McCoy's final ride in the race before he retires after 20 years as champion jockey. He is the hot favourite for the race at present at odds of no bigger than 7/1 and McManus is in no mood to talk down his chance, or that of Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes. "Shutthefrontdoor and Cause Of Causes represent us in the Aintree Grand National and they both go there with good chances," said McManus, who provided McCoy with his sole National winner of the race in Don't Push It back in 2010. "Shutthefrontdoor will be ridden by AP in his last ever Grand National and he has been laid out for the race all year. "He seems to be in good form and, with luck in running, he could give a good account of himself."
Meanwhile, Nick Scholfield is set to partner Spring Heeled for trainer Jim Culloty in next Saturday's race.
Scholfield, who was third on Teaforthree in 2013, schooled the eight-year-old over fences at Culloty's stables in County Cork yesterday. "He felt in good order. We did 12 fences in total and he jumped well," said Scholfield. "It looks like I'll be riding Spring Heeled and I think he ticks all the right boxes you need for a National horse, so I'm looking forward to it."
Scholfield had been originally pencilled in for Sam Winner, but Paul Nicholls' charge is not a certain runner after he was pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The ride on Spring Heeled became available after Robbie McNamara switched to former Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere when connections dispensed with the services of jockey Davy Russell, who would now have missed the ride through injury in any case.
* DOOR IS OPEN: Shutthefrontdoor is put through his paces by AP McCoy under the watchful eye of trainer Jonjo O'Neill at Southwell last month