Snap Decision tries to clinch championship in Grand National

Already a two-time Grade 1 winner this year, Snap Decision is well on his way to the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding steeplechaser of 2022. He can clinch the honor in Saturday’s Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills Racecourse in New Jersey.

Last year, Snap Decision was second in the Grand National, losing by a half-length to The Mean Queen, who was later honored as the 2021 steeplechase champion.

To win this year’s $250,000 race against eight rivals, Snap Decision must beat the intriguing Irish runner Hewick, the British shipper Global Citizen, and Noah And The Ark, a 41-1 winner of the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Handicap on Sept. 15 at Aqueduct.

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The Mean Queen is not in the field. Trainer Keri Brion said Thursday that The Mean Queen had “a minor issue” surface and is being prepared for a trip to England in early 2023.

Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher, is likely to be near the front early in the Grand National under jockey Graham Watters, which is not ideal from Fisher’s perspective.

“The only problem is I don’t see a front-runner,” Fisher said.

Snap Decision led throughout the Jonathan Sheppard Stakes at 2 3/8 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 17, but did so out of necessity.

“We did that because we thought they would slow it down,” he said. “I’d rather not be on the front. He didn’t run on the front until Saratoga.”

Snap Decision, an 8-year-old gelding, set the pace in the Lonesome Glory Stakes at 2 1/2 miles and was beaten nine lengths by Noah And The Ark, who carried 140 pounds. Snap Decision carried 168.

All runners carry 156 pounds in the Grand National.

Hewick won the $273,200 Galway Plate at Galway Racecourse in Ireland on July 27, and was disputing the pace at the final fence in the $199,400 Kerry National at three miles at Listowel Racecourse on Sept. 21 when he landed awkwardly and unseated jockey Jordan Gainsford.

Trained by John Hanlon, Hewick will have his first start over hurdles in the Grand National since a game second by a head in a handicap hurdle at 3 1/8 miles at Ballinrobe Racecourse in Ireland on May 13. The Grand National is his first start in the United States.

Global Citizen has started primarily in steeplechases in England recently. Trained by Ben Pauling, Global Citizen scored a 28-1 upset in the Grand Annual Chase over fences at Cheltenham in March. In his most recent start, Global Citizen was pulled up in a handicap chase at Worcester Racecourse on Sept. 12.

Brion starts Ask Paddington, who was third in the Lonesome Glory in his American debut.

“He has every chance,” Brion said. “He jumped horribly at Aqueduct in his first start in America.

“Having that experience and still be running on to be third, I think if he jumps he should improve. This should be more his type of track and distance. He has improvement in him from his last run.

“I think everybody who has run in America has an advantage.”

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