Cheltenham Festival winner is ‘better than ever’ insists trainer John O’Shea ahead of bid for double in Randox Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree Racecourse
13:16, 26 Mar 2026Updated 13:18, 26 Mar 2026
Jockey Henry Crow and trainer John O’Shea (left) after winning the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase with Barton Snow on day four of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday, March 13 2026(Image: Mike Egerton/PA)
Joe O’Shea feels that Barton Snow is better than ever as he bids to build on last month’s success at the Cheltenham Festival by winning the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree Racecourse, writes Nick Seddon.
Randox at on April 11.
The nine-year-old arrives here in fine form having racked up his seventh straight success on the Cotswolds last month and he’s a well-supported 7-2 favourite at the time of writing to strike over the Grand National fences at Aintree on Thursday, April 9.
O’Shea has won this race twice before with Cousin Pascal in 2021 and 12 months ago with Gracchus De Balme and he feels the shorter trip at Aintree could suit Barton Snow as he goes for the hat-trick – a feat achieved only once before since the Second World War.
The most recent horse to win the Cheltenham contest before going on to success at Aintree was On The Fringe, who won both races in both 2015 and 2016.
READ MORE: Full list of current 55 Grand National entries plus Iroko and Jagwar ready for Aintree
The Gloucestershire-based trainer said: “If I told you he’s improved 5lbs I’d be telling lies, he’s improved 7lbs. He’s unbelievable. I didn’t really want to go to Cheltenham. In all fairness, Aintree was the plan all year and we were using the Cheltenham race to condition him and we ended up winning it.
“The shorter the trip, the better this horse is so I’m looking forward to Aintree. He’s been back in work for three days and I can’t believe how much he’s improved for the run, it didn’t take an ounce of energy out of him. The fences are the question mark, but if you think 7-2 is a good price about him jumping round then get on, because I don’t think he’ll come off the bridle. That’s how confident I am, but Aintree is Aintree and you have to jump round.”
O’Shea could have as many as four runners in the race, including last year’s winner Gracchus De Balme, who he feels is well worth a second look at a bigger price.
He added: “Gracchus De Balme is getting back to the horse he was last year, if he’s fully fit and firing – he’s very good. I’ve seen he’s 25-1 and higher and I would write him off at your peril. The jockey at Cheltenham said the second he was headed he dropped the bit, which is what he does. He loves being in front and we’ll be going fast at Aintree. I’m also looking forward to seeing Willewonga. He’s a huge price and my money would be on him, he jumped well last year and he wasn’t 100% that day. His owner Nathan (Richards) has been incredibly loyal and this is his dream, so we’ve saved him for this.”
Meanwhile, the 68-year-old has hinted that this campaign could be his last, with the hunter chase season wrapping up at Stratford at the end of May.
He said: “I’ve nothing else to prove, so after this year I’ll be winding things down. I’ve had a fantastic innings and it’s been a pleasure. I’ve loved every minute and have no regrets. I had a quadruple heart bypass 18 months ago and my consultant has told me to slow down. I’ve been scared to slow down because if I do that I might get caught up by the other trainers!
“I will say, I’ve got one novice called Boley Bob and if he shows the potential he shows at home things might be different. If he wins at Cheltenham in April we could go for a final at Stratford. I’ll either go out on a bang or decide I can’t walk out on this horse. We’ll decide when we get there!”