GRAND Annual Steeplechase winner Ginolad is being aimed at the world’s richest jumps race in Japan after plans to tackle the Grand National at Aintree were scuppered.
The Warrnambool jumper, which contested last year’s $1.98 million Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan (4250m), was taken to the UK by trainer Aaron Purcell after that failed campaign and left in the care of leading English trainer Venetia Williams.
Williams, who won last year’s Grand National at Aintree with 100-1 outsider Mont Mome, was planning on taking Ginolad to Aintree next month but opted for Japan instead.
Senior part-owner James Purcell confirmed that Williams had nominated the 10-year-old for this year’s Pegasus Jump and the Nakayama Grand Jump, both held next month.
“Venetia thought Ginolad is not seasoned enough to run at Aintree this year,” Purcell said.
“She thought going down the Japan path would be a better option. We’re one of seven horses from England, Ireland and France that have been nominated for the races in Japan. We’re a 50-50 chance of getting a run in the Grand Jump.
“I’m sure he will run well in this year’s Grand Jump if he gets a run. He would have benefited from the experience of running last year. The jumps in the United Kingdom are very big. It takes horses a while to get used to them,” he said.
“Venetia thinks Ginolad might be an Aintree horse next year after he has more experience over the bigger jumps.”
Ginolad started his UK campaign with a win in a beginner’s steeplechase at Fontwell on December 8.
He was then disappointing when well beaten by Tazbar in a novice steeplechase at Huntingdon before being pulled up in a steeplechase at Southwell.
His UK campaign was interrupted after his Fontwell win when terrible weather conditions meant he missed eight jumping races due to snow.
“He hit a couple of fences at Southwell so the jockey pulled him out of the race. He’s taken no harm from the race,” Purcell said.
“Venetia has entered him for some races this week but her main aim was for the horse to run at the big four-day jumps carnival at Cheltenham in the middle of March.”
Williams has indicated to Ginolad’s Australian owners that the horse would be better after running at the Cheltenham meeting.
Ginolad received an invitation to run in the 2009 Nakayama Grand Jump after he won the 2008 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase and the 2008 Victoria Racing Club Grand National Steeplechase while under the care of Aaron Purcell.
The young Warrnambool trainer bought Ginolad for $900 at a mixed thoroughbred sale in Sydney before he won the two feature Victorian jumping races.
The Nakayama Grand Jump was made famous to Australian punters by the outstanding Karasi, which won the event three times from 2005 to 2007.
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