Scholfield handed Maggio ride at Aintree

Nick Scholfield will ride Maggio in next week’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.

The 13-year-old chaser is a familiar runner at the Merseyside course, as Saturday will be his sixth visit to the venue, although this will be his first run in the National.

Maggio will also have a new jockey riding him in the National in the form of Scholfield, although the Patrick Griffin-trained bay gelding will be in safe hands according to his trainer’s son and assistant, James.

“I’ve known Nick for a long time and he has ridden for us before,” James Griffin said. “Maggio is very well. He schooled over fences over two and a half miles at Thurles (on Wednesday).

“I rode him and I was absolutely delighted. It’s now all systems go for the National.”

Maggio is owned by Douglas Pryde and James Beaumont, who have previous experience of winning the National, as they achieved that feat with Auroras Encore in 2013.