Well-regarded 12-year-old steeplechaser Regal Encore looks set to enter the 2021 Grand National, with trainer Anthony Honeyball keen to give him a third crack around Aintree. He was entered in 2017 and 2019 but on both occasions, he came up short, finishing 7th in the 2019 race as a 66-1 shot. However, based on recent form, Regal Encore looks in good shape to be given a third and final opportunity to prevail in the National following his richly deserved win in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot.
Regal Encore finished a frustrating second in the 2019 Sodexo Gold Cup, behind the Kim Bailey-trained Vinndication. However, Anthony Honeyball was delighted to see his veteran chaser go one better this time around to take the Grade Three victory and a fourth win at course and distance. Ridden by Richie McLernon, Regal Encore started the race a 14-1 contender was happy to allow early leader Might Bite to take charge in the opening stages, but show tremendous stamina to assume control late on.
With just two fences remaining, Regal Encore and McLernon advanced well clear of Might Bite to take the lead. In the closing stages, Regal Encore had to grit his teeth and battle on with Whatmore breathing down his neck to cling on and win by a little over a length. A few weeks ago, trainer Honeyball had intimated that the 2021 Grand National was very much on the agenda given “his mark”. Honeyball was hopeful that he could “win one of these nice races” like the Sodexo Gold Cup during the course of the jump season to “just about get him in” contention for Aintree.
Regal Encore surprises connections to stay on and prevail again at Ascot
In the post-race interviews, Honeyball admitted that he and his team were a little concerned whether Regal Encore would perform around Ascot given that he was “a bit flat” on the gallops and “wasn't eating up” the ground. Even as he inched in front late on, Honeyball said that he was “worried he might blow up a touch” in the finishing straight given his lack of work, but he needn't have worried as Regal Encore gritted his teeth to hold on.
His handicap following this latest Ascot success could be such that he will slot in seamlessly to next year's National line-up. However, Honeyball is conscious that Regal Encore is “12 rising 13 now”, but if his recent form is anything to go by, he could be an intriguing outside bet for punters. It's hard enough to pick a horse to place in the National let alone win the race outright. The sheer field size means that bettors need to think more like poker tournament players, sizing their moves based on probability alone. You certainly wouldn't want to bet too heavily on Regal Encore in the National, but his staying credentials cannot be called into question and a prevailing wind over Aintree's fences could give him a legitimate chance at creating history for Honeyball.
Regal Encore was the cherry on top of a highly successful Ascot weekend for Honeyball, with the trainer bagging a hat-trick of victories which would have been worth a 308-1 treble. The trainer, whose stable is located at Potwell Farm in Beaminster, labelled it as his “best day” in the sport so far, helping to underline the growing respect for his stable across British and Irish racing.
The day started in promising fashion for Honeyball's team as Sully D'Oc prevailed as a 9-2 shot in the Ascot Underwriting Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. With Regal Encore scheduled to be his third and final booking of the day, Honeyball's excitement grew further when Kid Commando led from the front to claim the Sodexo Handicap Hurdle. It was only the six-year-old's second victory over fences, but his strong showing underlined his 11-4 favourite tag, crossing the finish line almost five lengths ahead of Malaya. It was a performance that would have been worthy of Paul Ferguson's list of star jumpers to watch. Regal Encore's victory wrapped up a satisfying afternoon's work, with Honeyball also earmarking the veteran for an appearance in the Becher Chase or the Ladbrokes Trophy in the coming weeks.
