Second at three Cheltenham Festivals, including in the National Hunt Chase over almost four miles, Discorama is all stamina and Nolan says he’s gearing him up for a crack at Aintree following wind surgery.
He said on Tuesday: “We’re pleased with him. He’s had the wind surgery, he’s back on the gallops now and he’s in the Grand National with the intention of going there.
“He could run before Aintree, whether it will be over hurdles or fences I don’t know. He’s not long back in, we blamed his wind for the way he ran at Cheltenham [when a disappointing fifth, beaten 39 lengths, when sent off 15/8 favourite for a handicap chase in November].
“Hopefully it will make a difference to him, we’ll see what happens.
“He went close in the four-miler and he ran two very nice races after that, he came out of it well, which they don’t always do coming out of that race.
“Hopefully for the owners, Tom Friel and Andrew Gemmell, we can get him to Aintree with a chance of winning.
“We wouldn’t be too worried if he never won again if he managed it!”
Discorama has been a nearly horse so far in his career, but he’s got the ability to land a big one. Off a mark of 149, 1lb higher than when he was a close-up third in last year’s Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, it could be in the National, as he looks well weighted with the test of stamina in mind.
