Ted Walsh hailed a 'career best' effort from his Cheltenham Festival hero Any Second Now winner of the Webster Cup Chase at Navan today, as the trainer readies J.P. McManus' gelding for next month's Aintree Grand National.

Pulled up on his previous run in the Thyestes Chase in January, Any Second Now today showed all his old ability, and some more, in beating last year's winner Castlegrace Paddy easily by ten lengths.

Owner McManus and winning jockey Mark Walsh were each completing trebles on the day, having had earlier success with the Denise Foster trained pair Coqolino and Gars De Sceaux

Winner of the 2019 Cheltenham Kim Muir Chase as a seven year old, Any Second Now bypasses next week's Cheltenham festival in favour of the Aintree showpiece, which was Covid-cancelled in 2020, and for which he has been allotted a tidy racing weight of 10st 9lbs.

Trainer Walsh won the 2000 Aintree National with Papillon and following today's Grade 2 win stated “I'd say that was a career best and he's going to the National in a good frame of mind.

“Five runners here against 40 in the National is chalk and cheese but he's going there in good shape and whatever happens happens.

“He won a similar race to this last year at Naas the same way and he's a smart horse. He won his maiden hurdle around here, won a Grade 2 at Punchestown over hurdles and won the Kim Muir. He's a fair horse.”

Regarding his Aintree weight, he added “he has a grand weight off 10-9, I've no problem with the weight and anywhere this side of 11 stone is grand.

“He reminds me of Papillon or Seabass (third for Walsh in 2012) as he's going there with a good chance. If he takes to the place, travels, jumps and gets a bit of luck he won't be far away.

'I'd say the favourite (Cloth Cap) will be hard to beat but if he runs a good race and he's in good shape you can't do more than that.”

Quotes from Gary Carson