Grand Geste wins the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park

Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s seven-year-old grabs victory in the feature on Merseyside but can’t go for the bonus at the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse as he’s not entered

Grand Geste (11-4 favourite) secured another victory at Haydock Park in the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase on Saturday afternoon. But Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s seven-year-old won’t be able to bid for the £500,000 bonus as he not entered in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 11 this year.

Grand Geste, who had won the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock before Christmas, was too low in the handicap to get an entry in the world’s greatest steeplechase this year. So only one horse – the Becher Chase hero Twig, trained by Ben Pauling – will have the chance of bidding the £500,000 bonus put up by bookmakers William Hill for any horse who wins one of the recognised ‘trials’ and go on to win the Grand National later in the season. The Classic Chase at Warwick, which was the other of three trials was abandoned.

Connections will now look at the National Hunt Chase over 3m6f at next month’s Cheltenham Festival as a possible next step for the improving staying chaser. But a bid at the Aintree showpiece could be on the cards in future.

READ MORE: Full list of 78 entries for the 2026 Randox Grand National

Under Danny McMenamin, Grand Geste was always travelling and jumping well in midfield off the front-running Cheltenham Festival scorer and 3-1 favourite Myretown with another Haydock winner from earlier in the season Top Of The Bill (22-1) and Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence (7-1) also near the head of affairs. But as mistakes again proved costly for the Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore-trained Myretown, who was eventually pulled up, first Deafening Silence took over. But Grand Geste was travelling well and came through over the final two fences and went on to score by a length-and-three-quarters from Top Of The Bill, who is entered in the Grand National, but may be too low in the weights to make the cut. Nao King (16-1) was a length back in third just edging out Deafening Silence – another National entrant – by a nose.

Grand Geste was cut to 16-1 from 33-1 with Paddy Power for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Parkinson, who jointly trains with Grand National winner Smith, said: “Back to a track that he likes, he did it well. But there is still improvement in him. He would not get in the National this year as he’s rated too low. But he has gone and won that well. But we will have to give Cheltenham a thought now. Three-mile-six around Cheltenham we will have to serious consideration to that now. He would need the soft ground there but the stiff track should suit him.

“To do that as a novice is a little bit special. He won well here but Doncaster wasn’t his track. He is not a quick horse but he has proved he can stay today and that is his future.”

He added: “You can’t rule the National out in future. He would have to keep improving, but if he did it would be worth a look.

“Danny is a good jockey and it is nice for him to get a big winner. He is a good lad for us and a good, strong jockey. I am pleased for everybody. It’s been a good season. We keep finding these big races, which isn’t a bad thing. I am pleased for the owners, pleased for the horse and we will think about Cheltenham now.”