The Randox Grand National takes place on Saturday afternoon and one of the 40 runners will etch their name into National history. Read part two of our runner-by-runner race analysis below – which comes with a big race verdict. Check this out alongside 888‘s new customer offer of £30 In Free Bets + a £10 Casino Bonus. You can find the Grand National Race by Race results on our dedicated results page.
22. Caribean Boy (Nicky Henderson)
Claimed the scalp of Fiddlerontheroof when landing a Newbury Grade 2 back in November 2020. Gained his first win since then when scoring at Kempton on penultimate run, but he failed to back up that showing when finishing pulled up at Ascot subsequently. Combination of a lost shoe and testing ground possibly to blame for that, but he has stamina to prove upped to this marathon trip. Sole representative for Nicky Henderson, who is yet to saddle a National winner.
23. Court Maid (Henry De Bromhead)
A mare who gained eight victories for Thomas Mullins and previous owner Rory Larkin. Purchased privately since chasing home subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Elimay in a Listed chase at Naas in February, and she now runs for Henry De Bromhead – who saddled last year’s 1-2. 2020 Porterstown (3m5f) win showcased her strong staying attributes but she remains 9lb above that winning mark and she struggled in last season’s Irish National off just 3lb higher.
24. Kildisart (Ben Pauling)
Winner of the 3m1f Grade 3 handicap chase on this card in 2019 yet he is 0-8 since then. Back from over 15 months off the track with a respectable Newbury fourth latest, however, staying on from well back. Well worth a try at a marathon trip such as this on the back of that showing, and he’s running off his 2019 winning mark, so far from a forlorn hope for all that he’s possibly vulnerable to something a little less exposed.
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25. Discorama (Paul Nolan)
Runner-up in a gruelling renewal of the National Hunt Chase back in 2019 and he went on to occupy that same finishing position in a Grade 1 behind Delta Work. That National Hunt Chase showing marked him down as a future National contender and he finished a respectable seventh on his debut in this event 12 months ago. Close second at Fairyhouse latest showed him to be in good heart but he’s only a pound lower than last year and hasn’t got his head in front since November 2018, so it’s probably placed claims at best.
26. Top Ville Ben (Philip Kirby)
Front-runner who landed a good pot back hurdling at the Winter Million meeting earlier this year. Chased home Wholestone in the Grade 2 Rendlesham subsequently and a chase mark of 148 certainly isn’t insurmountable on the pick of his form, which includes a 2019 Rowland Meyrick win that came off a mark of 154. Concerns over his ability to dominate in a race like this, however, and he took a heavy fall in December’s Becher which was his only previous run over these fences, risks attached on the back of that.
27. Enjoy D’allen (Ciaran Murphy)
Has thrived since joining this stable, producing form figures of 11223 for Ciaran Murphy last season, that third coming at odds of 40/1 in the Irish Grand National. Has continued his good form into this campaign, running well in defeat over both fences and hurdles at Leopardstown the last twice. Doesn’t appear to be on a bad mark, whilst J P McManus has snapped him up since last seen, so has to enter calculations for all that a strike rate of just 2-20 under rules is a little underwhelming.
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28. Anibale Fly (Tony Martin)
Admirable sort who has finished placed at big prices in two separate Gold Cups. As well as this, he was fourth and fifth in the 2018 and 2019 Grand Nationals both won by Tiger Roll. Never travelled when pulled up in this race 12 months ago, however, and his form figures this season read 9098. Now without a win since December 2017, (losing run at 18) and whilst this mark is, without doubt, workable on the pick of his form there has to be a serious question mark over how much ability remains.
29. Dingo Dollar (Sandy Thomson)
Broke a three-year losing run when scoring on stable debut at Newcastle last March and he went on to finish runner-up in the Scottish National. Not disgraced in three starts this campaign, finding the soft ground against him at Kelso latest. Strong stayer who’s skipped Ayr in favour of this but he wouldn’t want a lot of rain in the build-up and a mark of 148 is 11lb above his last winning one.
30. Freewheelin Dylan (Dermot McLoughlin)
Caused a major shock when running out a 150/1 winner of the Irish Grand National last April, making most to see off both Run Wild Fred and Enjoy D’allen. No win from his four starts since, however, failing to complete the last twice, and although he can clearly bounce back to form from nowhere he’s 10lb above last year’s Irish National winning mark.
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31. Class Conti (Willie Mullins)
Placed in the 2020 and 2021 renewals of the Thyestes Handicap Chase but his sole victory from thirteen starts for this yard remains a Tramore success in April 2019. Last of 15 finishers in this race last year when just shy of 129l off Minella Times. Subsequent form reads pulled up, ninth (beaten 24l) and eleventh (beaten 73l) and that includes a run in the 2022 Thyestes, so for all that he’s 2lb lower than last year he’s impossible to recommend.
32. Noble Yeats (Emmet Mullins)
Has always held a high reputation, looking a potentially useful recruit to this sphere when making a winning chase debut at Galway in October. Chased home Ahoy Senor in the Grade 2 Towton on penultimate run and caught the eye when ninth in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival subsequently, a race that has produced National winners. Got a man aboard that rides these fences better than most but this 7yo hasn’t always been the most fluent jumper and that would be a big concern on his first start over these obstacles.
33. Mighty Thunder (Lucinda Russell)
Had some high-class staying handicap chase form to his name last season, finishing runner-up in the Midlands National before going one spot better in the Scottish equivalent. Nowhere near that level in three starts this campaign, however, finishing a distant fourth in the Charlie Hall on seasonal reappearance and then failing to complete in two subsequent runs. Questions to answer on the back of those showings but his yard knows what it takes to land this prize.
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34. Cloth Cap (Jonjo O’Neill)
2020 Ladbrokes Trophy winner and supplemented that with Listed success at Kelso. Sent off the 11/2F for this contest as a result but failed to finish, wind reported to be the reason. Surgery to correct that hasn’t brought about an immediate response this season, finishing a 26l third in the Grimthorpe last time out. Runs off a pound lower than last year and clearly capable if back to anywhere near his best but others are still preferred.
35. Snow Leopardess (Charlie Longsdon)
One of the few mares in training to have had a foal and then continued her career, a decision that has proven to be a good one this season, where she has been unbeaten in three outings. Landed the Becher on debut over these fences in December and supplemented that with a 12l Listed success at Exeter. Hard to knock in her current mood and clearly has no issues with these fences but whether her stamina holds out over this far remains to be seen.
36. Agusta Gold (Willie Mullins)
Hasn’t yet managed to get off the mark in five starts since joining this yard, failing to justify odds of 11/10F when runner-up at Down Royal last month; Samcro third. Connections can at least take some solace in the fact that she finished that day, having failed to complete in both starts prior, but this represents a big jump in class and a mark of 146 looks plenty high enough.
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37. Phoenix Way (Harry Fry)
28/1 fourth in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at this meeting 12 months ago. Off the mark at the third attempt this season, landing a 2m5f handicap chase at Ascot in January. Heavy faller at just the third fence when favourite for the Coral Trophy next time out, however, which is hardly the ideal prep for this, particularly given his lack of overall race experience (just his 12th career outing under rules).
38. Deise Aba (Philip Hobbs)
Twice a winner of the competitive Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown and he’s finished a close-up second in three of four starts this season, the only blot coming in the Welsh Grand National when pulling up before five out. Overall chase form figures of P4115PP1P22P2 show just how much of an all or nothing profile he holds, but he’s clearly capable if on a going day, albeit he may need softer ground to be seen at his very best and 145 is a career-high mark.
39. Blaklion (Dan Skelton)
Took the 2017 Becher over these fences and was fourth in this race that same year. Best of the British challengers when a 50/1 sixth here 12 months ago and despite now being firmly in the veteran stage of his career he has still managed two wins this season, both coming on bottomless ground at Haydock. Hat-trick thwarted when pulled up back at Haydock in the Grand National Trial latest, however, and at 13yo he’ll do well to better his sixth in this last year.
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40. Poker Party (Henry De Bromhead)
Off the track for just shy of 22 months before a December reappearance and has shown little spark since returning, being beaten 48l at Leopardstown, 106l at Gowran and then finding the switch to Cross County against him when pulled up at Cheltenham. Very little to recommend about him on those performances and he’s still 7lb higher than when landing the 2019 Kerry National; easily opposed.
41. Death Duty (Gordon Elliott)
Former Grade 1 winning chaser who defied a four-year losing run when landing the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. Followed that run up with a sixth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and going back up in trip looks a plus on that showing. A mark of 144 shouldn’t prove beyond him and any of the forecast rainfall set to hit Aintree will suit, so he’s certainly one of the more interesting outsiders.
42. Domaine De L’Isle (Sean Curran)
Twice a chase winner last spring, including in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham, but he is yet to hit those heights this campaign, his best showing coming when a 66/1 fourth in the Becher behind Snow Leopardess. Struggled in the Eider latest and although he’s back down to his last winning mark those recent showings make him tough to promote in a race this competitive.
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Big Race Verdict
There’s been significant support for Snow Leopardess in the build-up to this year’s Grand National, yet with notable stamina doubts and a career-high mark to defy, she can be opposed. There may be no Tiger Roll in this year’s race, but Gordon Elliott still holds a very strong hand, and of his battalion, Delta Work rates the biggest danger, with Death Duty a fascinating outsider at the foot of the weights. Despite this, however, preference goes to FIDDLERONTHEROOF, who has been in fine fettle this season, running a big race to finish second in the Ladbrokes Trophy back in November. Colin Tizzard’s charge has been seen just the once since then, looking a slightly unlucky loser at Ascot. The decision to bypass the Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of coming into this a fresh horse looks a wise one and the handicapper hasn’t gone overboard with a mark of 155, so there’s plenty in his favour here.
- FIDDLERONTHEROOF
- Delta Work
- Death Duty
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Click here to view our Part 1 preview, which assesses the first 21 runners
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