The Spring Double might be a hard call for punters but it has proven impossible for trainers.
The man who came closest to landing both races in the same year was Dermot Weld who won the Lincoln in 1984 with Saving Mercy and a week later saw Greasepaint finish runner-up to Hallo Dandy in the Grand National.
Indeed, only three trainers have won both races, albeit in different years – Ivor Anthony, Denys Smith and David Elsworth – and one jockey, Dave Dick.
But Brian Ellison could be in for the week of his life with real chances of winning both races, starting in the Betway Lincoln at Doncaster today.
Ellison’s two runners, Top Notch Tonto and Dream Walker, are drawn next to one another in stalls eight and nine, although there is a greater separation in the betting, with Top Notch Tonto among the favourites.
He missed half of last season after fracturing a cannon bone and needed the run when tenth in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton earlier this month but his trainer does not disguise his belief in the horse.
“I think he’s got a massive chance,” Ellison said. “In the last couple of years he’s only ran in two handicaps. He finished second at York and second at Galway. He’s in cracking good form, the ground’s going to be on the soft side and I’ve got a good lad [Ben Robinson] riding him who can claim.”
The claims of Definitly Red for the Randox Health Grand National became obvious after he beat The Last Samuri at Doncaster three weeks ago.
Ellison never rode in the National in his days as a jumps jockey and his only runner since setting up as a trainer in 1989 was Neptune Equester.
He finished 13th in 2012 as a 100-1 shot but Definitly Red may yet start this year’s race as favourite.
His form in beating Blaklion at Wetherby in December puts him close to the current market leader, Vieux Lion Rouge, and Ellison said: “The way he won at Doncaster he put himself in the picture - he’s improved again this season. He’s not the biggest horse in the world but he’s got a proper jump in him. You just hope on the day that nothing goes wrong with him.”
If it goes right – Paddy Power offer 100-1 about Ellison winning both races - it could be doubles all round.
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