Aintree hero Corach Rambler may have contested his last Grand National

The 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler may have made his last appearance in the world-famous race.

The Aintree hero returned to Merseyside this month with a leading chance of completing back-to-back successes. But he got no further than the first fence where he stumbled and unseated jockey Derek Fox.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup third could now head to the Punchestown Festival next week to take on champion Galopin Des Champs, who beat Corach Rambler at the

Trainer Lucinda Russell outlined her latest plans for this season and next in the latest blog from the William Hill ambassador. “We haven’t made a definite decision yet, but as things stand the plan is to run Corach Rambler in the Punchestown Gold Cup.

“The spill at Aintree probably took a bit more out of him mentally more than it did physically but he’s right back on it. He seems very well in himself and we’re training him as if he will head over.

“It’s obviously a very competitive race with the likes of Galopin Des Champs, but we know he’s got the ability to be competitive as he showed at Cheltenham.”

On a return to the Grand National, she added: “I wouldn’t totally rule it out, but I’m not sure we’ll go for the Grand National again as he’s so high up in the weights now and it would be a real job to win off his mark.

“I’d imagine we’ll look at the big staying chases, like the Betfair Chase, next season as handicaps look tough now. It won’t be easy placing him, but I don’t think he’ll be out of place in the Grade 1s over three miles or further. We’ll see how we go in those contests and then make a plan from there.

“I’m not ruling out another tilt at the National because I Am Maximus showed that you need proper Grade 1 horses to win it now, and Corach is certainly one of those.

“He’s been an amazing horse for us and has given us some special days, so he owes us nothing. I still retain huge faith in him and I’d like to think he’ll give us a few more highs yet.”