It's Mission possible for McConnell with classy Irish raider

ENGLAND has the favourite in last year’s winner Corach Rambler, while Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins have eight runners each — but Grand National glory at Aintree just might be bound for Ireland, with Mahler Mission and John McConnell.

- Johnny Ward

The build-up to tomorrow’s £1million race has been dominated by the weather. The field has been reduced to 34 runners yet, in truth, it was not a huge price some days ago that the race may have been under threat had there been too many downpours.

As such, that this unique and spectacular festival commenced yesterday on ground described as “soft, heavy in places” was a great relief. Ideally, it would not want to get any deeper for Mahler Mission, but positives abound.

In 13 starts, he has been in the first three all bar twice, and one of those was a Cheltenham mishap 13 months ago that rather enhanced his reputation. Still seemingly travelling best in the amateurs’ novice chase at the Festival, the McConnell runner came down two out.

His only run this season was remarkable, as he reportedly lost both front shoes in a gruelling Welsh National in December, yet beat all his rivals bar Datsalrightgino.

McConnell deliberately skipped Cheltenham in March with a view to the horse being at his best at Aintree.