JAGWAR
- Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
- Jockey: Mark Walsh
- Owner: J P McManus
- Age: 7
- National Weight: 10st 10lb
- Season Form Figures: 322
- National Prep-Race: 2nd - Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase, Cheltenham Festival (Mar 2026)
”I could easily see Jagwar winning the National. There is a big “but” to his chance however, his jumping. How he got beat at Cheltenham (in the Ultima) I don’t know. Well, actually, I do know, it was his jumping and he simply made too many mistakes, but the engine is clearly there, and I can’t get away from that.
The worry with this horse is he is straight-backed in his jumping and he doesn’t seem to possess the ability to shorten and that style of jumping around here is a concern, but I keep coming back to two things; one: he is handicapped to win and two: he’s got the ability to win.
It’s a real balancing act between his jumping and his engine because one looks a real weakness and the other is obviously a big plus. He just has this habit of leaving his hind-legs in a fence and he did it at the ditch at Cheltenham and also at several other fences. Those mistakes can be shuddering ones and stop you dead in your tracks, but he still nearly went and won the Ultima.
Like, for him to make those errors, having a wide trip and still nearly coming back to win, it just shows you what kind of ability this horse has, but if he makes those kind of errors at a fence at Aintree like The Chair, that’s game over. Because that fence is a ditch, those straight-backed horses can make a mistake there and fire the jockey out the front.
Now, as we all know, the modern National fences aren’t what they used to be so if this fella jumps well, I can see him winning, I really can. We shouldn’t forget the money that came for him ahead of the Ultima too, and if you backed him, it was a frustrating watch, because those errors just put Mark Walsh on the back foot and forced him to pull him out wide to get a look at his fences.
If you back Jagwar you’ll probably know your fate early, but sometimes those ignorant horses, they can take to the test, but watching him after he makes his first mistakes will be key. How will he react? I remember riding plenty horses who were a good jumper of a Park Fence, but after a mistake over the National fences, they can brick themselves and no better example of that for me was Go Ballistic who I rode in 1997 when sent off favourite and we eventually pulled up.
You could see that type of scenario playing out with Jagwar, but at the same time, I really can see this horse winning as he’s such a talented horse. The yard are going much better now than they were at the start of the season when he made his debut and off 152, he likely won’t get a better chance.”
The Bottom Line
- Strong Suit
- "He’s a young, progressive well-handicapped horse with a nice weight on his back."
- Weak Spot
- "His jumping!"