Honeyball preparing for Aintree Encore


Trainer Anthony Honeyball is getting Regal Encore ready for one more crack at the Randox Health Grand National this spring.

The veteran has twice before lined up in the great race without success and his trainer is eager for a third tilt.

Aintree experience in the bag

Regal Encore finished eighth in the 2017 renewal as One For Arthur landed a famous win for Scotland, before going one place better last April as the magnificent Tiger Roll etched his name into the history books in securing back-to-back wins in the great race.

The JP McManus-owned Regal Encore returned to form with a vengeance at Ascot in December when winning the valuable Silver Cup just before Christmas.

He’s since finished third behind Ballyoptic back around the Berkshire circuit this month in a run that has pleased his trainer.

“Regal Encore ran a solid race. (Jockey) Richie McLernon felt an end-to-end gallop would have suited (better) – because they went steady and picked up long way out,” said Honeyball of the run behind the impressive Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyoptic in the Keltbray Swinley Chase.

Next up it will be time to give Regal Encore a spin over some Aintree-style obstacles in order to prep him for that National.

“He will have a school over the National-style fences in Lambourn, which we have done most years, to let him know something different is round the corner,” added the trainer.

Lower mark in 2020

The 12-year-old will line-up on April 4th off a mark of 146 – 6lb lower than when he finished seventh behind Tiger Roll last year.
In both previous visits, the King’s Theatre gelding has travelled with plenty purpose for much of the journey being struggling late on.

Connections will take encouragement from the likes of Amberleigh House (2004), Royal Athlete (1995), Little Polveir (1989) and Ben Nevis (1980); all four horses having won the Grand National aged 12 since Red Rum managed his third win as a veteran in 1977.

McManus still seeking win No.2

Leading owner JP McManus has fired plenty darts at the Grand National bullseye down the year but, as yet, his only winner remains Don’t Push It in 2010.

Of course, that success was amongst the greatest chapters in Aintree history as Sir Anthony McCoy finally landed the great race after years of National heartache.

McManus will have plenty options again this year.

On Sunday, the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now was a winner in Ireland and he appears bound for Aintree now.

Former Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Anibale Fly is amongst the fancied runners for trainer Tony Martin, while Ok Corral (Nicky Henderson), Kimberlite Candy (Tom Lacey) and Fitzhenry (Paul Nolan) are amongst those that join Regal Encore as possible contenders this year in the famous green and gold hoops.

Honeyball will be hoping that Regal Encore, 65th on the Aintree list, gets his place and can make a strong bid to make it third time lucky in the Randox Health Grand National.

Latest News

Inothewayurthinkin cut for Grand National after Gold Cup triumph

2PG4A7G Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire , UK. The 2025 Cheltenham Festival delivered its trademark mix of excitement, tight finishes, and memorable moments, but it was a week where bookmakers largely had the upper hand, as a string of fancied runners failed to justify their odds. Cheltenham Day 1 – Constitution comes a cropper Heading into the […]

Grand National runners set for Cheltenham Festival

Punchestown Racing – Winter Festival Day 1, Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Kildare 14/11/2021 The Liam And Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Steeplechase Keith Donoghue on Vanillier jump the last fence to win The Cheltenham Festival is upon us, with a host of Grand National contenders primed to go head-to-head. The Gold Cup is undoubtedly the highlight […]

Ricci hopes to have last laugh at Aintree

Image from Alamy – 2DYP6NE Charlie Deutsch riding Royale Pagaille clear the last fence on the way to winning The Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse, Surrey. Rich Ricci says his first memory of attending the Grand National at Aintree was a newspaper jibe pondering: “Who’s the fat cat in […]
18+ | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
grandnational.org.uk is an independent professional comparison site supported by referral fees from the sites which are ranked on this site. The sites and information we present are from companies from which grandnational.org.uk receives compensation. This compensation may impact the rankings of the sites. Other factors, including our own opinions, your location, and the likelihood of signing up, may also impact how the ranking of the sites appears to a particular user. grandnational.org.uk cannot and does not present information about every betting/casino site or betting/casino site offer available.