Warren Greatex remains confident he can revive the fortunes of Emitom in the Grade One Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday 10th April on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival.
The Lambourn handler believes that the extra time between now and the extended three mile contest could benefit the seven-year-old. Emitom finished fourth in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at The Festival™ supporting WellChild in 2020 but Greatrex says he is unlikely to be heading to Cheltenham this season.
After failing to win either of his two novice chasing starts this season Emitom could only finish sixth on his return to smaller obstacles at Haydock Park on Saturday (February 20th) when attempting to claim back-to-back victories in the Grade Two William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle.
Greatrex said: “I’d say Emitom will probably miss the Stayers’ Hurdle at The Festival and will go for the three mile Grade One at Aintree instead.
“He wasn’t travelling with his usual zest at Haydock and though he was close up turning in, he then he just got tired over the last quarter of the mile. We will run a few tests over him over the next week and see if anything comes to light as we know he is better than that.
“Cheltenham is only three weeks away and we might just run out of time for that as we probably need a bit longer to see if something comes to light.
“He did this last year finishing last in the Cleeve then winning the Rendlesham, so we have done it before and we have just got to work out how to get him back to his best again.
“If he goes and wins the Grade One at Aintree, I wouldn’t be fussed about missing Cheltenham.”
