Who trains 2021 Grand National contender Any Second Now?

Any Second Now, a nine-year-old gelding owned by John P. McManus, is trained by Ted Walsh in Co. Kildare, in the midlands of Ireland. As far as the Grand National is concerned, Walsh is probably best remembered for saddling the 2000 winner, Papillon, who was ridden by his son, Ruby, and the 2012 third, Seabass, who was ridden by his daughter, Katie. However, the charismatic trainer appears to have another ‘live’ contender for the 2021 Grand National in the form of Any Second Now who, at the time of writing, can be backed at 25/1 ante post.

The son of high class jumps stallion Oscar has won just two of his 16 starts over fences, but is unexposed as a staying chaser, having raced just twice beyond an extended 3 miles. In fact, his most notable victory to date came in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, over 3 miles 2 furlongs, at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019. He failed to build on that effort when falling early on in his only attempt at a marathon trip, in the Irish Grand National, over 3 miles 5 furlongs, at Fairyhouse and his only victory since came over the minimum distance of 2 miles at Naas in February, 2020.

Stamina is potentially an issue at Aintree, as is jumping ability – Any Second Now has fallen, or unseated rider, three times over fences – but Walsh appeared confident that he would stay 4 miles 2½ miles prior to the 2020 Grand National, for which he was trading at 10/1 second favourite at the time the race was cancelled. Two non-descript runs over hurdles so far in the 2020/21 are probably neither here nor there as far as his National prospects are concerned and it may be worth noting that Papillon, too, had a preparatory run over hurdles.