The Randox Grand National is arguably the most famous horse race in the world and the total prize money of £1 million on offer is the biggest in the British National Hunt calendar. Read part one of our runner-by-runner race analysis below, alongside 888‘s new customer offer of £30 In Free Bets + a £10 Casino Bonus.
1. Minella Times (Henry De Bromhead)
Twice a runner-up in big-field Leopardstown handicap chases before landing this race 12 months ago, that remarkably his first start beyond 3m. Has failed to complete in both starts since that National success, however, falling when well held in the John Durkan and then pulling up at the Dublin Racing Festival. Campaign likely to have revolved around a return to this venue, but he’s a whopping 15lb above last year’s winning mark.
2. Delta Work (Gordon Elliott)
Five-time Grade 1 winning chaser who broke a two-year losing run when seeing off legendary stabemate Tiger Roll in last month’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. That race has traditionally proven a good guide for unearthing National winners, and a mark of 160 looks workable on the pick of his form. Unexposed at marathon distances, versatile in regard to ground, and represents a yard with a strong National record, so there’s plenty in his favour.
3. Easysland (Jonjo O’Neill)
Classy Cross Country operator on his day, posting an RPR of 171 when accounting for Tiger Roll at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. His form has nosedived since then, however, and a switch to Jonjo O’Neill’s yard has failed to reignite a spark the last thrice. Racing back over his favoured Cross Country course didn’t bring about a revival latest, and he has plenty to find with Delta Work on that running. Very difficult to fancy him based on recent performances, particularly off a somewhat lofty mark of 159.
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4. Any Second Now (Ted Walsh)
Yard took this race with Papillon back in 2000, and this gelding wan’t beaten far into third 12 months ago, that despite suffering notable interference due to a faller. Prepped for that renewal with a victory in the Grade 2 Webster Cup, and he comes into this with an eye-catchingly similar 1 next to his name, staying on gamely to see off Escaria Ten in February’s Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase. 7lb above last year’s mark, but as mentioned there are reasons to believe that he could better the showing with a clearer run, so must enter calculations.
5. Run Wild Fred (Gordon Elliott)
Runner-up in last season’s Thyestes Handicap Chase and once again occupied that finishing position in the Irish Grand National subsequently. Deservedly got off the mark in this sphere when landing the Troytown at Navan in November, and subsequent placed efforts in Grade 1 and 2 novices chases look far from poor efforts. Unexposed over marathon trips and should take well to a jumping test like this, so warrants respect, for all that his tendency to find one too strong is a slight concern.
6. Lostintranslation (Colin Tizzard)
Took the Grade 1 Mildmay at this meeting back in 2019 and went on to further top-level glory when taking the Betfair Chase later that year. Broke a long losing run when going in at Ascot earlier this year, yet he has reverted to type since then, prepping for this with a distant eighth in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Once rated 173 so a mark of 157 isn’t beyond him, but difficult to gauge how much ability remains nowadays, whilst it’s also a concern that he hasn’t scored in a double-figure field since December 2017.
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7. Brahma Bull (Willie Mullins)
40/1 Ladbrokes Trophy third and not disgraced when occupying that same finishing position behind stablemate Al Boum Photo at Tramore subsequently. Hasn’t managed to complete in two subsequent outings, however, with his jumping a cause for concern on those showings; unseated in the Cross Country latest. Far from ideal prepping for this with an unseat and the handicapper hasn’t been kind, so despite connections he’s easy to oppose.
8. Battleoverdoyen (Gordon Elliott)
Former Grade 1 winning chaser who got himself back in the winner’s enclosure at Galway in July. Took a crunching fall when beaten in Grade 2 company at Thurles last time out, which isn’t the ideal prep, and he hasn’t actually raced beyond an extended 2m6f since finishing held in the 2020 RSA Chase. Has gained his last six wins in single-figure fields; opposed.
9. Burrows Saint (Willie Mullins)
2019 Irish Grand National winner and far from disgraced when fourth to Minella Times in this race 12 months ago. Not far behind Al Boum Photo at Tramore earlier this year, yet he has been beaten over 40l on his starts either side of that, including when a long way behind both Any Second Now and Escaria Ten latest. Off the same mark of 156 that he carried last year, yet this is arguably a stronger renewal and he arrives with more to prove, so it’s advised to look elsewhere.
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10. Mount Ida (Gordon Elliott)
Winner of her first two starts this season, accounting for subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Elimay when landing a Fairyhouse Grade 3 on New Year’s Day. Jumping issues once again surfaced when a distant seventh to the aforementioned Elimay latest, however, and simply put she looks a better horse in smaller fields going right-handed.
11. Longhouse Poet (Martin Brassil)
Represents the 2006 winning yard and took in a similar prep to former stablemate Numbersixvalverde when landing the Thyestes earlier this season. A long way below that level of form subsequently, when seventh (beaten 30l) in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, and whilst these larger obstacles should suit he did go off favourite that day, so it’s safe to say that better was expected. Will appreciate any rainfall that hits Aintree this week and he’s certainly not unexposed over obstacles, but that last run remains a niggling concern.
12. Fiddlerontheroof (Colin Tizzard)
Chased home the classy Monkfish at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, and he began this campaign with a Listed victory at Carlisle. Bettered that form in defeat when runner-up in the Ladbrokes Trophy subsequently, and once again occupied second-place at Ascot latest. Connections sensibly bypassed the Gold Cup so he’s come into this with a good prep and big-field staying handicap chases evidently suit. The handicapper hasn’t gone overboard with a mark of 155 and he’s one to keep a very close eye on.
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13. Two For Gold (Kim Bailey)
Winner of an impressive 10 of his 20 starts under rules, running out a game victor of the Fleur De Lys at Lingfield on the inaugural Winter Million weekend. Bettered that form in defeat when chasing home the classy Fakir D’oudairies in the Ascot Chase last time out. Based solely on that form he appears to be on a handy mark here, yet he failed to complete on his only previous start beyond 3m and unseated in the Topham over these fences last year, so just a watching brief is advised.
14. Santini (Polly Gundry)
Best known for chasing home Al Boum Photo in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup, when in the care of Nicky Henderson. Now runs for Polly Gundry, and his best run from three starts for these connections came when chasing home Chantry House in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Trials Day. Outclassed in the Gold Cup subsequently, which wouldn’t have been unexpected, yet this is hardly a significant class drop and he’s going to be vulnerable to some younger legs.
15. Samcro (Gordon Elliott)
Once the poster boy for National Hunt racing, yet he’s gained just one win since landing the 2020 Marsh Novices’ Chase, that coming in a Grade 3 at Killarney last May. Not beaten all that far at Down Royal last month, but his current wellbeing is probably better judged on a penultimate run in a handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, where Samcro was beaten almost 70l. Runs off the same mark of 152 here with stamina to prove and it’s easy to put a line through him.
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16. Farclas (Gordon Elliott)
Runner-up in last season’s Plate Handicap Chase and followed that up with a fifth in this, when 29l behind Minella Times. Hasn’t been seen since chasing home Run Wild Fred in November’s Troytown, however, and the handicapper has somewhat harshly put him up 6lb from last year to a mark of 152. Would require some training performance to land this, for all that he’s not one to completely dismiss.
17. Escaria Ten (Gordon Elliott)
Third to Galvin in last season’s National Hunt Chase, a race often seen as a good guide to future Nationals (Snow Leopardess 14l back in fourth). Pulled up in the Irish Grand National subsequently, and only eighth in the Thyestes on reappearance, but he was much better when going down narrowly to Any Second Now in the Bobbyjo last time out; first-time blinkers applied. Looks a good fit for this race and clearly well-handicapped on last season’s form, but his tendancy to throw in a poor run (often in big fields) tempers enthusiasm at the forecast prices.
18. Good Boy Bobby (Nigel Twiston-Davies)
Showed fine form at the start of this season, landing the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Only mid-field in the valuable Coral Trophy subsequently, however, and he runs off the same mark of 150 here. Stamina to prove and it’s an obvious concern that all four chase wins have been recorded in the months of October to December.
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19. Lord Du Mesnil (Richard Hobson)
Mudlark whose last three wins have come at Haydock, the most recent in the Grand National Trial last February. Failed to complete in this race subsequently, however, and in four runs this season by far his best showing came when a 33/1 runner-up to Good Boy Bobby in the Rowland Meyrick. Once again pulled up when attempting to retain his Grand National Trial crown latest, and despite this he’s still a pound higher than last year. Needs the heavens to open.
20. Coko Beach (Gordon Elliott)
Last year’s Thyestes winner who followed up in Grade 2 company at Navan. Form figures since then read 746P644, however, trailing home last in the Bobbyjo latest. On better terms back in handicap company here, yet his top three RPRs have all come when encountering officially heavy ground and he’s still 12lb above his Thyestes winning mark.
21. De Rasher Counter (Emma Lavelle)
Had his day in the sun when landing the 2019 Ladbrokes Trophy yet he’s been limited to just the four starts since then, failing to go on from a Newton Abbot hurdles second when fourth back at Newbury in the Grade 2 Denman Chase. Returning to handicap company will suit, and he’s racing off his Ladbrokes Trophy winning mark, so certainly not one to discount, for all that others in this field arrive with a little less to prove.
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Click here to view our Part 2 preview, which includes a Big Race Verdict and predicted 1-2-3
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