Ormello tries luck in Swedish National
Preview: Sweden, Sunday 2.45pm BST
Stromsholm: Svenskt Grand National 2m5f
LUCINDA Russell runs Ormello in the Svenskt Grand National over 2m5f at the once-a-year meeting at Stromsholm, Sweden, on Sunday.
Lucinda Russell: off to Sweden
PICTURE: Jon WinterPeter Buchanan rides the seven-year-old in a field of nine which includes the last two winners, Neptune Joly and Lights Out.
Ormello has been a regular earner but he has not won in nine races since scoring in a 2m chase at Perth in May 2008.
He has tried longer trips but that seems his best distance and he finished second over it at Ayr and Perth in his two most recent races.
French-based Irishman Jason McKeown rides Neptune Joly for Danish trainer Hanne Bechmann.
The eight-year-old, who was trained by Michael Scudamore when he won the 2007 version of this race, warmed up with an outing on the flat at Goteborg last month.
Lights Out could be a tougher opponent but he has not raced since October. His four outings since victory here last year have yielded two more wins and two seconds. Niklas Loven rides him as usual.
The multi-national field also includes Godea (Jan Korpas) from the Czech Republic and Gluckstag (Mr Andrew Doyle) trained by Elfi Schnakenberg in Germany.
Godea has been in the money in his last five races and finished a close second on his reappearance last month.