We are set for three sensational days of top quality National Hunt action at Aintree next week, as the 2024 Grand National meeting lights up Merseyside. Our man Steve Chambers has taken a look at some of the ante-post markets for the major races during the week and picks out three selections that can grab glory…
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4.00 Aintree – Saturday 13th April – Randox Grand National – VANILLIER
Reigning champion Corach Rambler is entitled to be a warm order to repeat his victory of 12 months ago, and at the time of writing, is the 28/5 market leader with SBK, but he did have a tough race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month and off a higher mark this year could be worth taking on.
One of the real eye-catchers in last year’s race was Gavin Cromwell’s VANILLIER, who was given a lot to do in the closing stages of the race and stayed on to grab second place. He’s back for more this year and off a 4lbs higher mark he looks to have the capabilities of going one better. A current 10/1 chance with SBK, the Irish raider warmed up for this event with a decent second placed finish in the Bobbyjo Chase last time out, but that should have right for next weekend’s contest.
He is sure to be ridden patiently again and could find himself scything through the field alongside market rival Corach Rambler in the closing stages, but if he can just unleash his challenge a bit earlier then he looks to be very attractively handicapped to run a big race again.
2.55 Aintree – Thursday 11th April – Aintree Bowl – GERRI COLOMBE
Gordon Elliott’s GERRI COLOMBE was no match for Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, but he still produced a fine effort in second place and he can go one better in the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl on day one of the Grand National meeting next Thursday.
He could face the likes of Shishkin, who failed to line up at Cheltenham last month, and Ryanair Chase hero Protektorat, but Gerri Colombe was a stunning seven-and-a-half length winner of the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at last year’s Aintree meeting and he should have no issues with the possible soft going.
One of the leading staying chasers in trainer, Gerri Colombe may not be the premier Irish-trained star with Galopin Des Champs holding that accolade, but the Cullentra House inmate is the second best staying chaser in training, so should land this prize for favourite backers.
Grand National Favourites – Assessing the Top 5 Market Leaders for Aintree
The Grand National continues to get closer and closer, with anticipation building to the new look race on Saturday, 13th April. We look at the top five contenders according to the market below, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. Corach Rambler The horse even non-racing fans will be aware of heading into the 2024 Grand National…
Tue 02 Apr 20243.30 Aintree – Friday 12th April – Melling Chase – JONBON
It was certainly a Cheltenham Festival to forget for Nicky Henderson, who was forced to rule his big stars out of the National Hunt marquee event, but the Seven Barrows handler is hoping to unleash some big guns in Liverpool next week.
One of those is likely to be JONBON, who is set to take his chance in the Melling Chase on the Friday and the eight-year-old can land the win. A facile 43-length winner of a poor renewal of the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree last year, Jonbon had previously beaten El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle in 2022, so he’s bidding for a Merseyside hat-trick.
He failed to fire this season when being beaten at short odds in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham, but he’s been off the track since then and with El Fabiolo unlikely to line up here and head to Punchestown, it’s Pic D’Orhy that could prove to be the biggest rival. Despite being a proven top notch chaser for Paul Nicholls, Jonbon should have the measure of the Ditcheat contender and if he brings his A Game then can land this prize with aplomb.
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