Corach Rambler is a popular thoroughbred racehorse that currently competes in National Hunt racing. Irish-bred, this horse arguably shot to fame when it won the 2023 Grand National, which was impressive, even though Corach Rambler went off favourite where Grand National odds were concerned. By winning the Grand National, the Lucinda Russell trained gelding became only the third-ever winner to be trained by a Scot.
There’s recently been a lot of talk surrounding Corach Rambler’s next race, arguably because, after a 196-day layoff, he’s come back and been well beaten twice. However, Russell will have her eye on bigger prizes after allowing one of her prized assets to shake the rust off, and it seems to be that everyone is hoping that Corach Rambler will run in the iconic Gold Cup at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
It would be a significant step up for Corach Rambler, a fine chaser, as proven by winning the Grand National earlier this year. But, it’s the step up in competition that could prove difficult, with the race stacked with elite-level thoroughbreds. If he’s ran in races such as the King George VI Chase at Kempton, it will provide an indicator as to whether he’s up to the Gold Cup or not.
Another option will be for Corach Rambler to defend his crown at Aintree in the Grand National next year. The last horse to achieve the feat was Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, and it would be quite the achievement if Corach Rambler was able to do the same. But the Gold Cup at Cheltenham 2024 remains the aim for now.
Corach Rambler Recent Form
Corach Rambler Recent Form
Corach Rambler’s recent form has been disappointing, to say the least. After a 196-day break, he made his return to action at Kelso and finished fifth out of six runners. That was in October, and the follow-up in November at Haydock didn’t represent much of an improvement, as Corach Rambler finished third out of four runners. So, it’s understandable why Cheltenham Festival odds don’t suggest he’ll be one of the main players in the Gold Cup if he’s to run.
However, the above appears to be par for the course with Corach Rambler because, before its long layoff, it won the Ultima Handicap Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival before triumphing at the Grand National. And the couple of races it had following a long break the year prior saw him finish fifth out of seven and fourth out of fifteen.
As far as recent form goes, Corach Rambler is a horse that has turned up for the big races time and time again. He’s raced at the Cheltenham Festival twice and won twice. He’s also been entered into the Grand National and won it. It’s a horse where form in big races should be counted, and potentially the rest, especially after long layoffs, discarded.
Who trains Corach Rambler?
Who trains Corach Rambler?
Lucinda Russell is Corach Rambler’s trainer. The fifty-seven-year-old hails from Scotland and has had a handful of significant successes as a horse racing trainer. Success for Russell arguably started when Brindisi Breeze won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2012. Ahoy Senor won the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle in 2021 and the Mildmay Novices’ Chase in 2022. Apple Away was the second Russell-trained horse to win the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, doing so in 2023.
Russell’s major successes have come in the Grand National. One For Arthur in 2017 was the first of her horses to win the iconic race. Then, Corach Rambler followed that up in 2023. It remains to be seen what’s next for Corach Rambler, which could go on to be Russell’s biggest ever success. Horse racing odds have it listed to run at the 2024 Gold Cup, but another run at the Grand National could also be on the cards.
