Ascot next for Regal Encore on route to Grand National
By Timeform,
Sunday 05 January
Regal Encore will head back to Ascot next month before another trip to Aintree for a third crack at the Randox Health Grand National.
Now a 12-year-old, Anthony Honeyball's stalwart returned to form with a vengeance at a course where he seems to run his best races when winning the valuable Silver Cup last time out.
Regal Encore just loves it at @Ascot! @AJHoneyball’s charge repeats his Silver Cup success of 2016 under a brilliant @richiemclernon ride 👏 pic.twitter.com/gbskFHfULM
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 21, 2019
That was his first win since February 2018 at Ascot, and he will return once more before hopefully heading back to Aintree, having finished eighth in 2017 behind One For Arthur and seventh last season.
"It was great to see him win again. We probably couldn't have afforded him to drop any lower if we wanted to go back to the National," said Honeyball. "He ran in it last year off 152 and he'd dropped to 142 before Ascot.
"There's a chase at Ascot in February that he's run in the past two years, winning it once and finishing third last year, and he'll go back for it again as he's 6lb lower this time.
"Hopefully if all goes well there it will be Aintree again after that. Hopefully he'll head to the National off around the 146 he's currently on."
Related Horse Racing Links
Grand National 2021 News
Find out all the information about the runners and riders in the 2021 Grand National
Randox agree five-year National Meeting extension
Randox has agreed a five-year extension to its current sponsorship of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.
Might Bite set for Grand Sefton test
Might Bite is set to have a spin over the Grand National fences next month with Nicky Henderson eyeing the William Hill Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree.
Grand National the ultimate aim for Potters Corner
Last year’s Coral Welsh National winner Potters Corner is not certain to defend his Chepstow crown next month, with the Grand National his main target.
View all Grand National 2021 News
Grand National 2021 Free Bets
Exclusive free bets and offers for the 2021 Grand National at Aintree
