Grand National 2017 – Daryl Jacob looking forward to riding Gordon Elliott’s Ucello Conti at Aintree
Ucello Conti didn't quite get home over the marathon trip in the race last year but Jacob is expecting him to put up another bold show on a better surface
DARYL JACOB is banking on Gordon Elliott having Ucello Conti in peak form for the Grand National.
Sixth in the race last year when he appeared not to quite stay the trip, Jacob felt the rain-softened ground caught him out over the extreme distance.
Granted a better surface this year Jacob expects another bold show.
"I was really looking forward to him last year and he did give me a great ride," Jacob told Racing UK.
"All his French form was on very soft ground so when the rain came I was really confident he'd run a massive race, which he did, but two out he looked the winner and maybe he didn't quite stay.
"I'm hoping going back this year that we get good to soft ground, which will help him stay.
"He had a great run in the Becher, he just got a bit tired after the last, he's had a few good runs in Ireland, he was second in the Thyestes and had another good run in the Leinster National.
"Gordon is a master and I'm sure he'll have him primed for the day and I'm sure he'll run a good race again.
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"If we get good to soft ground which will help him stay the extra distance, he's got a perfect weight (10st 11lb)."