Trainer Jonjo O’Neill believes Shutthefrontdoor has the right credentials to give Tony McCoy a memorable send-off in the Grand National at Aintree.
The 19-times champion is likely to retire on the spot if he can clinch his second success in the world’s most famous steeplechase on April 11.
While fearing no particular horse, O’Neill reckons it is an open race.
“You need a good, classy horse with ability, whereas before you had a good jumper and needed a lot of luck. It is a proper race now, a real good handicap chase,” O’Neill said.
“He likes to be up there in the first half of the field and that would be my plan. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest that he is favourite, betting doesn’t come into it.
“I am just training the horse as if he was going for a little race at Stratford. He is spot-on and in good form.”
Speaking at a media visit to his Jackdaws Castle base, O’Neill was realistic about the chances of a fairytale victory for McCoy.
“I think AP will probably ride him and the public will all be backing him looking for that fairytale story,” he said.
“We would all love it to happen, but it is a tall order.
“The only pressure I have on me is making sure he (Shutthefrontdoor) gets there safe and sound.”
With the money continuing to come for McCoy’s mount and another swell of support expected on the day itself, some bookmakers are taking bets on what price Shutthefrontdoor will be by the time the tapes go up.
Betfred quote the eight-year-old at 8-1 to be the shortest-priced National favourite of the modern era, meaning he would need to go off at 100-30 to eclipse the 7-2 starting price of Red Rum in 1975.
Paddy Power offer 11-10 that he has a starting price of between 5-1 and 13-2 inclusive, while it is 2-1 he goes off 9-2 or lower.
